HOT WHEELS
direct action (topless protests) with the digital campaign.
So why didn’t #MeToo make big inroads into Africa?
One of the reasons for the lack of uptake is related to the racial nature of the campaign. It was started by white, wealthy women in the film industry in the US who had access to digital platforms.
Another reason #MeToo wasn’t that big in Africa is because of the very strong patriarchal culture in which women fear being stigmatised when they speak out about sexual harassment or assault.
The very visibility of this kind of action makes them more vulnerable. Women are also afraid that their families may find out about the abuse.
And in many countries, women are quite aware that the law won’t protect them. In a range of countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe, secondary victimisation of survivors is rife in male-dominated courts, where conviction rates for rape are on average below 10%. But women in many African countries have staged street protests. This enables them to avoid individualised attention, but nevertheless makes their causes visible.
In Kenya, women started #MyDressismyChoice protests in the streets of Nairobi after a woman was assaulted at a bus stop for wearing a miniskirt.
In Senegal, two young women started #Nopiwouma to challenge the nation’s silence on gender-based violence. It means “I will not shut up” in native language Wolof. The campaign #Doyna, also in Senegal, means “that’s enough”.
A consequence of not wanting to speak out about sexual harassment is that high-profile men get away with this behaviour.
South Africa has a very high incidence of gender-based violence. A recent example involved the former deputy minister of education Mduduzi Manana, who beat up two women in a nightclub. He from his job and was eventually forced to relinquish his parliamentary seat.
In Uganda, MP Sylvia Rwabwogo filed a complaint against a man who had stalked her for eight months. He was eventually sentenced to two years in prison but she was strongly criticised by Ugandans who expressed their sympathy for the “enamoured” student.
Organisations such as the African Union (AU) have also failed women.
In January 2018, women staffers appealed to senior officials to end harassment in the AU. The matter was only dealt with after it reached the media. The AU’s limp-wristed response was to say that vulnerable young interns and volunteers hoping for permanent work were targeted, but that it could do little to protect them.
Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga laments that #MeToo has not reached her country where sexual harassment is also rife. She herself was in an abusive relationship for nearly eight years.
In South Africa, women started another campaign, #MenareTrash, to challenge men to speak out about the epidemic of violence against women, especially intimate femicide. There was a big push back by men against the campaign because some felt they were all being stigmatised.
This doesn’t appear to be a problem confined to South Africa. Globally, men have problems showing solidarity with women speaking out against sexual harassment, assault and rape.
This was clearly evident in Brett Kavanaugh’s case in the US. Accused of attempted rape, he went on to be confirmed as a judge of the US Supreme Court.
Amanda Gouws is professor of political science and SA Research Chairs Initiative chairperson in gender politics at Stellenbosch University
Republished from TheConversation.com
African Union has also failed women.