When I say I’m a feminist, I bet you have a clear idea in your head about who I am. If I said I was a liberal, environmentalist, socialist, or activist, you’d probably also tick off a few boxes and have me neatly labelled. Is this realistic in a world where communities are no longer […]
Equality
Posted inEquality, Lifestyle
The F word
It’s 2011 and it’s hard not to wonder what happened to feminism? People, and sadly women in particular, are scared to label themselves as feminists because it is seen as outdated, and irrelevant. Feminism has become the official dirty F word for women. The world of post-post-feminism tells women that we’ve arrived, we’re here, we’ve […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Two queer decisions
A soccer World Cup in Qatar and a UN vote. What do they have in common? Both of them deny the rights of gay and lesbian people. Queer decision number 1: Executions for homosexuals In November, the South African representative to the UN voted with 78 other representatives to remove the clause “sexual orientation” from […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
What is a feminine vagina?
In Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 92 million girls from 10 years of age and above have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). Amnesty International estimates that 2 million involuntary circumcisions are being performed every year, mainly in Africa. This practice has no physical benefits for women, and can cause death. The details […]
Posted inEquality, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Child brides, HIV and cultural rights
In South Africa, the tradition of ukuthwala allows parents to arrange marriages for their children. This tradition originated out of parents’ interest in securing a good home for their children, but has unfortunately evolved into something more similar to child trafficking. It is a dangerous form of GBV that pays little attention to the rights […]
Posted inEquality, Lifestyle
If you don’t know what it means to be a feminist, don’t say you’re not one
Oh my days. It is entirely frustrating when you represent a cause, only to hear someone say that your cause is irrelevant because they don’t understand what it is. Bev Merriman, you just made me feel very, very ill. It’s like someone saying they’re going to speed, because so far, speeding hasn’t been bad for […]
Posted inEquality, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Sex sells sick boobs
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Who doesn’t love to have an extra feel of their or their partner’s breasts to check them out for health and safety? It’s essential and if you’re not sure how to do it, have a look at this guide on how to cop an educated feel. Remember that this […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Gender equality an unrealistic dream for SADC
Gender-based violence (GBV) is not a single crime committed in a vacuum. It is committed daily and targets “women, gay men, lesbians, transgenders, transsexuals, intersex, girls [and] boys”. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender Protocol [1] signed by all states except Mauritius and Botswana [2] states that GBV “Means all acts perpetrated against women, […]
Posted inEquality, Lifestyle
Pregnancy — slave to patriarchy or ultimate feminist act?
To have a baby is something that only women can do. A man can never feel his belly growing with life inside of it, feel a kick from the inside, or feel the body-crippling nausea that comes with morning sickness. They can never give birth, nor can they have a Caesar. They can never breastfeed, […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Mis-leaders: Understanding homophobia in Africa
We give too much power to our leaders in Africa. We invest them with god-like status and then feel disappointed when they deliberately disregard the public good, or stray from the path we hoped we’d be on. Worse though is the fact that we influence who our leaders are, so African leaders’ (in)action is a […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Does the ANC Women’s League exist?
The ANC is the ruling party. The ANC has the power to enact positive change through effective leadership and policy. Yet, South Africa is still one of the most dangerous places to live for a woman. At least three women are raped every minute in South Africa, and many more are sexually assaulted, harassed, verbally […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence
Legalise prostitution now!
Sexual favours for a price. On the side of the road. Down an alley. In your car. In your hotel room. In your house. On the corner. Wherever it is, it’s likely to be unsafe for the sex worker. Why? You might refuse to use condoms and risk exposing him or her to sexually transmitted […]