• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 12 / 29 / 2010

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Deb Stock, executive director of the York YWCA, traveled to Cuba for five days in early November.By TED CZECH. Daily Record/Sunday News. Updated: 12/28/2010 05:23:24 PM EST. York, PA - After spending five days in Cuba, Deb Stock said she realized that per capita, women there have more positions of leadership than their American counterparts.

"I was surprised that there is equity in Cuba," she said. "I had an assumption before I went there that there would not be."

Stock, the executive director of the York YWCA, journeyed to the Caribbean island in early November as part of a delegation of 35 women to examine the role of women in Cuban society.

The trip was sponsored by the American Association of University Women, and an article on the trip is set to appear on the group's website later this week, Stock said.

Stock, 57, said the trip is the latest example of the marriage between her job and her love of traveling.

"The mission of the YWCA is the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism," she said. "I always liked to travel anyway, and I always had this passion for equity of women."

Aside from her mission through the AAUW, Stock said she had another related question: "The attitude of the people -- why do people continue to be so loyal to the government?"

Stock said that while in Cuba, the group's daily agendas were planned by the government, and government representatives primarily spoke to the group. The government did, however, allow them to speak with local residents as well, she said.

The group had to use interpreters for some conversations, but on other occasions, the Cubans with whom they spoke had studied English.

"I had some really nice, long discussions with a couple of women," she said. "There's a whole generation of well-educated, well-informed people in Cuba, both men and women (in their 30s)."

And while things like Internet access were readily available to tourists there, for its residents, "It's like time has stood still," she said.

There are no cell phones, the vehicles are all from the 1950s, and meat is not sold, because it is too expensive. Island residents live on rice and beans mainly, and even that is rationed, she said.

In addition, the economy there is suffering, and as a result, many of those with college degrees have found work as taxi drivers or tour guides to support their families, Stock said.

On the other hand, Stock said she found a very successful health care system -- one that sends its doctors to other countries after natural disasters, and even allows scholarships to Americans. She was also impressed with the literacy program implemented by the government after the revolution.

But the more she spoke with island residents, the more of a dichotomy she found: their attitudes are full of hope, but fear at the same time.

"They don't know what the solution is . . . they're hoping someone figures it out," she said. "The government has reached a point where it might not be able to take care of the people."

The last person with whom Stock and her fellow travelers spoke was a young, educated activist, who said she spends a great deal of time in Washington, D.C., as an advocate for the Cuban government.

The woman said the United States underestimates the intelligence of the Cuban people.

[email protected]; 771-2033.

About AAUW

From its website:

"American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institution partners.

"For 129 years, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day -- educational, social, economic, and political. Our commitment to our mission is reflected in all aspects of our work."

Learn more at www.aauw.org.


Source: www.ydr.com/rss/ci_16959298?source=rss