The end of oppression for Jamaican womenWomen have been oppressed in many places and in different ways over the years, but in Jamaica this trend continuous must finally be broken. “Sexual or gender inequality represents an essential and integral feature of social relations and cultural construction in Jamaica, where, over the past four hundred years, colonial and imperialist exploitation has governed the development of patterns and structures economic, political and socio-cultural. (Harrison: Women in Jamaica's Urban Informal Economy, p. 12) Women play different roles from their counterparts in politics, economics and religion. It is important to know not only the general role of women, but also where they come from. Women did not play a large role in politics, were economically oppressed and did not receive equal pay. In Rastafarian culture women are submissive, this is slowly changing. Where does this leave Jamaican women? A race in search of strong female role models. “Black women have no shortage of heroines or role models. However, they must be saved from the shadows of a selective history.” (http://www.internurse.com/marymain.htm) Throughout Jamaica's history there have been great women leaders and musicians, such as Nanny of the Maroons, Queen Omega, Mary Jane Seacole , Marcia Griffith, Judy Mowatt, and sister Carol. Currently in Jamaica it is very important for young girls to have role models. Not only did Jamaican society and Rastafarian culture repress women, but other countries did as well. Going back to the 1700s, we can find a strong woman who is still talked about today. The Maroons' Nanny lived in the 1700s when the people of Ja...... middle of paper ......, 1997, URL: http://www.bobmarley.com/life/legacy/rita / ritainterview.html.Steffens, Roger, "Rita Marley", URL: http://hem.passagen.se/perdavid/ritaM.htm. 04/03/00. Timm, Bob, "Interview with Sister Carol", November 3, 1999, URL: http://ska.about.com/entertainment/ska/library/1999/aa110399b.htm. 4/11/00. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, "Consultation on Gender and Industrial Policy", August 1995, URL: http://www.unrisd.org/html/focus/focus1/eng /f1e12.htm. 4/3/[email protected], "Excellent Maroon Nanny", 1999, URL: www.jamaicaway.com/Heroes/NannyPage.html. 4/3/[email protected], "Jamaica Gender and Development", 10 janvier 2000, URL : http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/americas/jamaica.html. 25/03/00.Whitemanm, Burchell, "Nanny of the Maroons", février 2000. 1998, URL : www.kasnet.com/heroesofjamaica/nan/nan/nan1.htm. 4/3/00.