Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Yaya's Meal at Balesin Island Club : Discriminatory or Not?






























Balesin Island Club is in hot water nowadays due to its now famous “yaya’s meal,” courtesy of a former beauty queen’s rants pertaining to it on her social media account. I didn’t know anything about this hullabaloo until a friend sent me a link to an article about it through a private message. 


She then asked me my take on it, and responded to her by saying that it was discriminatory. But after some while, I pondered on the matter.


Yes, it is downright discriminatory – with the mere idea of having a separate meal for yayas or nannies (and other household help). And the public outcry is understandable. We live in a country where most families can’t do without helpers, and where most families treat their helpers as their own family members.


And so I perfectly understand where Mrs. Maggie Wilson-Consunji is coming from. I too will feel slighted given the same situation. Why should there be a separate meal for our beloved yaya?


It is discriminatory all right, but the best thing to do is just to brush that policy aside, and order regular meals for our yaya. The management of the resort has already issued a statement that the so called "yaya’s meal" is only an option. In other words, it is not mandatory.


It was just unfortunate that the waiter who served the Consunji family did not fully understand it, to the extent of telling the yaya that she can only order a “yaya’s meal.” And this is where it all began.


As a final thought, it is discriminatory from whichever angle it will be perceived. And any resort which has a policy on this should be very careful in implementing it so as not to offend their guests or clients and their yayas.


But eventually, the onus is on us - on whether we will subscribe to it or not, dignify it or not.


One pate de foie gras for our yaya please.....








No comments:

Post a Comment