Giving their take on what it means to be a woman in SA

WITH Women’s Day celebrated this past week, the Weekend Argus took to the streets of Cape Town to ask ordinary women about their views on what it takes to be a woman in South Africa today, and issues such as inequality and gender-based violence.

Well, it seems 66 years after thousands of women marched to the Union Buildings, many South African women believe there is little to celebrate on Women's Day, especially because of the persistent rise in gender-based violence cases and ongoing gender inequality.

Freelance artist Hlumelo Yawa said that a lot needed to happen for her to see a difference. “My definition of a woman is a phenomenon above man's phenomena. A light that paves the way. A graceful being that endures all this hardship thrown against her and yet she loves unconditionally. However, given the current climate, I’m not happy as a woman in South Africa.

“Living in a place that’s labelled as the rape capital of the world is crazy to me and I believe it because it is true.

Gender-based violence has been the main component in South Africa and it gets worse.

“Being catcalled in the streets makes it so uncomfortable for us to walk freely and easily in the streets, or in the workplace. It’s simple – I believe there are many women who are talented and intelligent and deserve to be treated as such. The police system needs to improve and these perpetrators need to be held accountable and punished for their crimes,” said Yawa.

Michelle Saunders, who works as an independent yatch contractor at the V&A Waterfront, said she was the only female salesperson in a company filled with males. She believes that women should mould young boys and girls to respect and honour women, and remind them of the struggle women had to fight to be equal.

“I believe women need to be more empowered not only at work but also in the community. Women need to feel safe in all places. Most people focus on men and society overpowering women, however, women are also disempowering each other instead of uplifting and encouraging each other. We as women must also respect each other. We as women should mould our children, boys and girls to respect and honour women,” said Saunders.

Sterna Fourie, managing director at Shimansky, said women were unique.

“Women are valuable members of society and we are opinionated, articulate and strong-willed. We are all unique and this is the beauty.

“However, the climate around women in the country (has) a negative impact on mental, physical and emotional health for survivors. GBV is a human rights violation and a significant barrier to achieving gender equality. More development needs to happen where there are support programmes for trauma and addressing the needs of child survivors,” said Fourie.