Abuse of women has no place in our politics -- or society

THE marketers may have taken over, but Mother’s Day remains an opportunity for people to express affection for their mothers, spoil them silly and simply say “thank you”.

Motherhood is the only uncontested role for women in society. In every other sphere — be it in the workplace, business, politics, and even in the home — their position remains challenged, constrained, less fulfilled, or even, in some instances, ridiculed.

Maybe that’s why we tend to celebrate Mother’s Day with some vigour. Motherhood is a traditional, more comforting, role, far removed from the spectre of the bra-burning feminist.

It’s not a threat to the status quo, and is a burden that only women can bear. Often it stymies their potential: bearing and raising children while at the same time holding down a job has been their life’s challenge.

Thanks to culture, religion and historical sentiments, the progress of women has been an uphill struggle. Cultures across the globe differ in many respects, but they’re similar in their treatment of women as not being the equal of men.

There may be differences in the progress made by different societies, but the fact is in every walk of life women still have some way to go to catch up with their menfolk.

Religion has similarly not been kind. Campaigners for women’s rights often have to contend with religious texts and precepts — dating back centuries, and which for obvious reasons cannot be amended — that restrict women’s role in society.

Anglicanism, for instance, was almost rent asunder by dissension not so long ago over the issue of women priests. Many prominent bishops threatened to leave the Church of England if women were ordained. The church, however, seems to have weathered the storm, and even ordained its first female bishop early this year.

The Catholic Church won’t even broach the subject. It’s doubtful whether Pope Francis, probably the most liberal pontiff ever, will be able to move the church from its position.

Islam seems to fare even worse. Among other restrictions, for instance, women are not even allowed to drive or walk alone in public in some countries in the Middle East. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are against girls getting an education. It’s a view that has been imported to Nigeria by Boko Haram, which has abducted thousands of young women.

When democracy was introduced in ancient Athens in the sixth century, women were not considered to have a say. It was not until the end of the 19th century that first New Zealand, then Australia and the US, granted women the vote. After years of struggle, women in Britain finally got the franchise on the same terms as men as recently as 1928.

In South Africa, the rights of women have often played second fiddle to the struggle for black empowerment. And even with a constitution that is supposed to be the envy of the world, some of our cultural practices continue to militate against the interests of women.

A polygamous president, for instance, is not exactly the epitome of a progressive, forward-looking nation.

The abuse of women is too prevalent in our society, and still too many women die needlessly at the hands of their partners. It is not uncommon for women to be harassed in public by complete strangers for either wearing trousers or a dress that is deemed to be too short. Freedom is still an alien concept for some species.

It’s not only powerless women who suffer such indignities. South Africa has done pretty well in getting a substantial number of women involved in the political process. But even they are not immune to such humiliation.

Some thought it was amusing when Julius Malema referred to Lindiwe Mazibuko as a “tea girl”. Or when Blade Nzimande said she was a “coconut”. These disparaging remarks should have no place in our discourse.

But Thuli Madonsela remains the bellwether on the treatment of women in influential positions. She’s become a political punching bag for the ANC for doing her job properly, and without fear or favour. It is an indictment of our society that we sit back and watch this outrage.

It’s no coincidence that it is Mathole Motshekga — who tends to wear his culture on his sleeve — who’s leading the charge. Madonsela represents everything he wouldn’t want to see in a woman.

Prominent women in the ANC should be speaking up. Instead, they’re cheerleaders — the way they cheered Zuma in and out of court during his rape trial.

It’s an irony that women, who, more than anybody else, are responsible for giving birth to society, should themselves struggle to find a place or play a meaningful role in that society.

Our case also proves that fine laws and constitutions are by themselves not enough to change age-old practices that are inimical to the progress of women in society. Comment on this: write to tellus@sundaytimes.co.za or SMS us at 33971 www.timeslive.co.za