Women urged to be discerning in choosing partners Stabroek News March 14, 2000 Retired nurse, social worker, Brenda Johnson, is urging women to be discerning when choosing partners as they could be either an asset or a liability to their lives, and this would have an effect on their children. Speaking on the occasion of International Women's Day on Wednesday, she advised that they be on the alert for signs of jealously, anger and irresponsibility which most times leads to abuse. Johnson, who served as a nurse at the New Amsterdam Hospital for many years before her retirement, is now a social worker at the New Amsterdam Prison. Women over the years have changed their roles from domesticated beings to climbing the rungs of corporate ladder, she said. They have attained the zenith in leadership, treading in areas previously dominated by men. She noted that women have not only achieved the quest of earning outside the home, but have excelled at professions and trades that would have shocked our fore mothers a century ago. Gone are the days when the 'fairer sex' was only concerned with the preparation of cakes, pickles and other condiments, she said. Now they are competing with men in the areas of building, the disciplined forces, in space shuttles, just to mention a few areas, so as to earn a decent wage for the upkeep of their children. Johnson called on Guyanese women to desire knowledge, because it builds self-esteem, and could improve economic and social standards.