Women’s liberation is up to everyone
I WILL not succumb to the temptation of giving the history of the women’s struggle in South Africa. I don’t give the history not because I am less appreciative of the contribution of women in the liberation struggle of our country. I don’t give history because I know that the current generation must not only acknowledge history but, without fail, take the fight for emancipation of women forward.
The South African government has declared 2017 the year of Oliver Reginald Tambo and the theme for women’s month is “The year of OR Tambo: Women united in moving South Africa forward”. Oliver Reginald Tambo, affectionately known as “OR”, is one of the forebears of the liberation Struggle in South Africa. By reading the various speeches of “OR”, I have made a conclusion that he was the epitome of non-sexism and a gender activist par excellence.
On January 8, 1984, delivering a speech during the occasion of the 72th Anniversary of the ANC, OR said: “Our struggle will be less than powerful and our national and social emancipation can never be complete if we continue to treat the women of our country as dependent minors and objects of one form of exploitation or another. Certainly no longer should it be that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. In our beleaguered country, the woman’s place is in the battlefront of Struggle.”
In the midst of high levels of violence against women, these words from OR must be amplified by everybody in the society. When women are pushed to the periphery of economic activities and remain landless, it is the duty of members of society, who mingle in the corridors of power in legislature, executive and judiciary, to lead in ensuring that there is elimination of inequalities, unemployment and poverty faced by women in the country.
The fight against gender oppression and emancipation of women is also about dismantling structural inequality and challenging the material basis of women’s oppression under capitalism.
The country must move from theory to practice in terms of radical economic transformation, which means a fundamental change in the structure, systems, institutions and patterns of ownership, management and control of the economy in favour of all South Africans, especially the poor, the majority of whom are African and female. OR emphasised that the mobilisation of women is the task, not only of women alone, but of all of us, men and women alike. He was aware that there is no way women can liberate themselves without fighting to the end the exploitation of man by man, both as a concept and as a social system. There is a need to eliminate conservative attitudes and resistance to change on the part of men and women also. Hiding behind undemocratic cultural, traditional and religious beliefs to perpetuate oppression of women must not be allowed in a country where the supreme law is the constitution.
Those entrusted with the responsibility to serve within state institutions, established to support constitutional democracy, must bring those who trample upon the constitutional rights of women to book.
In the South African context, the leadership in political- and faithbased organisations is male dominated and some of the leaders’ perspectives are often impeded by benefits they derive as a result of women’s oppression, resulting in gender blindness.
Political parties, religious institutions and all civic society formations must be at the forefront in advancing women’s emancipation. Gender-based violence and various forms of gender oppression are prevalent and know no race, class or political affiliation.
Emancipation of women must not be a task to be advanced solely by women.
All non-sexist people and those who seek to emulate OR in being gender activists par excellence must join in this struggle.
South Africa needs an “OR” of our times, who will be at the forefront of demanding that there is legislation on 50/50 gender parity in all sectors, at all levels.
The adherents of gender equality must unite and demand that
‘Political parties and civic society must advance emancipation.’
such equality must form part of the compulsory curriculum in all the schools, from primary to secondary level. Proud, non-sexist citizens must demand criminalisation of any form of sexism and harsher sentences for those convicted of gender-based violent crimes.
The internationally renowned Egyptian writer, novelist, medical doctor and fighter for women’s rights, Nawal El-Saadawi, said: “Solidarity between women can be a powerful force of change and can influence future development in ways favourable not only to women but also to men.”
The commemoration of women’s month should encourage all of us to understand that the liberation of South African women from the bondage of patriarchy and any form of gender oppression is the responsibility of all citizens in the country, irrespective of race, class and political affiliation.
To all the women of our country, happy Women’s Month.
Rakolote is a board member of the International Association for Public Participation-Southern Africa (www.iap2.org ). He has over 18 years working experience in government, the corporate sector and NGOs championing socio-economic transformation