Woman’s place definitely not in kitchen

In modern SA, women are continuing with the struggle, writes Themba Mzula Hleko from Pretoria.

The government of South Africa declared August as Women’s Month and August 9 as Women’s Day. In August, as a country we honour and celebrate the contributions of women in making South Africa great.

The struggles of South African women are entrenched in the country’s history, dating back to the heroics of our struggle heroines who staged a march at the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, to resist the pass laws.

In modern South Africa, women are continuing with the struggle. It manifests in many ways and has pervaded the socio-fabric of our society.

Women face hardships every day, either at work, at home, in business and even in taxis.

Conforming to undesirable traditional norms – like saying the place of a woman is in the kitchen – has further exacerbated the disempowerment of women.

This has created too much obfuscation and subterfuge to render the aspirations of women beyond the kitchen insipid.

At work, women face lugubrious challenges that are posed by sexual harassment and gender bias, manifesting in many instances, such as the gender wage gap, for example.

Men need to stand up and help government in creating a conducive environment for women to prosper.

Legal recourse is there and men must help society to uphold the rule of law.