Patriarchy marginalises women
Of all leading political parties in our country, none have women presidents.
This phenomenon, as appalling as it may be, does not actually come as a shock.
It is a socially accepted norm – and no one seems to be vocal about changing it.
Culturally – and societally – we are taught that a woman’s place is to be the pillar and support structure for a man ... never to be a leader and a head.
Women politicians have to overcome a number of hurdles to be recognised as capable and valiant leaders.
In politics, it is like running a race with all your limbs shackled to each other.
One must first unshackle those limbs before having the energy to even start the race.
I recall a time when Dr Mamphela Ramphele took it upon herself to explore an alternative – and founded a political party.
Granted, she had made a series of mistakes at the time, but history would judge those who criticised her harshly, not because a leader had erred, but because she is a woman.
The character assassination of Ramphele and ridicule did not stem from doubts over her ability to lead.
It was rather due to the fact that she had once been in a relationship with late Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko
Her relationship with him was used as a tool to discredit her and, to my surprise, these negative utterances even came from women.
We do not concern ourselves about the sexual escapades of some of our male politicians.
If anything, these indiscretions are dismissed as them “just being men”.
We are led by many men with questionable moral standing, but that to us is not a problem.
Yet, when it is a woman ... it’s a problem that can be used to discredit her. Go figure!
This phenomenon speaks volumes about our society and the double standards that continue to plague us as women.
A woman’s private sexual life being used as a weapon against her, is actually nothing new.
In fact, this has been the method used to downplay achievements by women for centuries.
Women who choose to express and own their sexuality have been labelled all sorts of things.
These labels of course are not used when it comes to men.
For men, a guilt-free pass is always awarded them on the basis of unfounded societal constructs. I can also recall a time where late mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s leadership skills were questioned by our society.
After the Dali Mpofu saga, she too was reduced – and ridiculed.
As a result she never got a shot at ascending the highest office in the land.
This, despite having kept the fight alive when uTata (Nelson Mandela) was in prison.
This, despite her will and determination to liberate our people.
Instead, like many women in politics, she was only used to show her face and not given the power to lead.
She was too radical and too opinionated for the misogynistic men in leadership ...a loose cannon, so to speak.
Ironically, though, her role in the liberation of this country is only now known after her death. Which begs the question, must women leaders die before their role is highlighted?
Must you be in your coffin before you are recognised as a driver for social change?
Must your body be covered with soil before your ability to lead is acknowledged? What a crying shame! Shame on us all for continuously feeding the narrative of patriarchy!
Currently, the trend is to use women to fulfil a 50-50 quota, yet the decision-making powers rest on men.
Women in politics will be given frivolous ceremonial duties of being “deputies”, yet when the time to ascend the throne comes, they are either coerced into stepping down or replaced quietly by the “next best thing”.
Patriarchy is a scourge that continues to multiply and reenforce itself like a cancer.
This cancer has even infected women themselves, who are fed the poison that SA is not ready for a woman president.
I am left wondering, what does this say to the girl child?
What does it say about us as women leaders in society?
Are we truly so indoctrinated by the system that we fail to recognise our own potential?
Is it not time to stand up and remind men that if they dare strike a woman, they strike a rock?
● Siyasanga Sijadu, Nelson Mandela Bay Cope councillor
We do not concern ourselves about the sexual escapades of some of our male politicians