Women’s Month came to an end this week, but I am indifferent and happy to see it go as it held nothing significantly exciting for me.
It is supposed to be the month dedicated to me – a South African woman, but is it?
I asked myself this question when I received an invitation to address a Women’s Month event to talk about being a woman in the public service, but I wasn’t sure I could do justice to the topic.
The month recognises the triumph of courageous women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to demand change. Their bravery and determination were iconic and served as a reminder of what women can achieve when they unite with a common purpose to tackle the enemy head-on.
But the vibrant historical context starkly contrasts with the state of women’s experiences in the country today.
What should be a celebration of empowerment, development, and a remembrance of significant strides, has, in many cases, turned into a carnival of fakeness. The authenticity of some of these gatherings appeared questionable.
The participants, it seemed to me, appeared to engage in performative displays of support while perpetuating harmful dynamics, and simultaneously undermining one another under the weight of patriarchy.
This, to my mind, conjured up images of the TV reality soapie of Real Housewives, symbolic of superficiality and drama, rather than authentic sisterhood.
In modern-day South Africa, women face an alarming reality of fear, continued discrimination and marginalisation in various social settings, notwithstanding the promptings of the constitution are emphatic.
Gender discrimination may have been outlawed but it persists, casting a dark shadow on the progress made towards gender equality and attainment of equity goals.
Sexual harassment and assault have become alarmingly common, and those in positions of power often escape accountability due to their influence and institutional support from the organisations that pretend to care about women but take away from them as soon as they report such cases.
Victims of sexual harassment are left to doubt their experiences. They are burdened with the weight of societal hostility when they speak up. Those who remain silent are forced to coexist with their tormentors, perpetually at risk of further harassment and violation.
South African women have come a long way since 1994. More women pursue education and complete their degrees, choosing to stick it out even with the challenges they face.
Barriers have been shattered, but it comes as a shock when we still entertain questions such as whether the country would ever be ready for a female president, or similar questions such as whether the judiciary is willing to embrace the notion of being led by a female chief justice.
How soon we forget that the late Dr Frene Ginwala was the first parliamentary speaker of the National Assembly in the democratic era.
Who asked if South Africa was ready for a woman speaker when Ginwala first occupied the position in 1994?
Why do we ask now? Might it be that if we looked at individuals based on their abilities and not their gender and remember they are humans with agency, deserving of human rights, we could move past the debate and fully embrace the potential of women in leadership.
If nothing else, perhaps these are the things we needed to practically address during this month.
The essence of women’s power is not determined by merely repeating slogans and holding talks, but more about the unity with which we display to challenge the status quo and the support we provide for one another.
As we reflect on Women’s Month as a whole, it is important to remember that the fight for gender equality is far from over. The commemoration should not overshadow the ongoing struggles and challenges women face in the country.
Our struggles should propel us to fight harder, smarter and with more determination to smash the patriarchy and become our own liberators.
While this year’s commemorations and celebrations may have appeared subdued, it is my sincere hope that each of us, in our own small ways, contributed to the advancement of
women’s emancipation.
The collective support extended towards the struggles and triumphs of Banyana Banyana served as a noteworthy contribution, as did the hosting in the country of the inaugural Netball World Cup.
They remind us that even in disillusionment, women have risen with unconquerable strength.
- Seedat is a master’s candidate in industrial sociology, focusing on women’s lived experiences in government, and a former spokesperson in the presidency
- Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
