The relationship between gender-based violence and the home in South Africa means that lockdown leaves women particularly vulnerable, yet the government has been largely silent on this issue
gender-based violence
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, General, News/Politics
The war on our women, children and fellow Africans
I am ashamed to be a South African man today. How have we fallen so far as a nation? From being celebrated globally as the ‘Rainbow Nation’ — for our peaceful transition to democracy; for our Constitution which stood as one of the best in the world because of the weight afforded to protecting basic […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, Health, Lifestyle, Media
Do we still need an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia?
By Pierre Brouard Do we still need an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT), to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics? If this year’s events I attended are […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, Health
#TotalShutdown and gender non-conforming people: Will mental health providers be responding?
By Chris/tine McLachlan As a psychologist working in this field I have seen first-hand how rape, sexual assault, hate crimes and other gender-based violence against womxn (GBVAW) completely change a person’s life. I see the re-traumatisation, even as the person goes through the healing process, and how they often experience a profound loss of control. […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, News/Politics
Men will never stop hurting us
As a child, I thought that grownups weren’t afraid of anything. They killed spiders. They didn’t believe in monsters and ghosts. They weren’t scared of dogs or the dark or the deep end of the swimming pool. Of all the disappointing discoveries of adulthood, the realisation that grownups are in fact very frightened very often […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, Health, Lifestyle
Virginity bursaries: Weighing the pros and cons
By Nandisa Tushini The recent outrage over the bursary scheme that seeks to fund those who can prove their virginity – the “maiden bursary” – is controversial but not without its merits. Despite some support from young women, many organisations such as People Opposing Women Abuse, Lawyers for Human Rights, feminist groups and even the […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, Health
It is quite possible for women to have sex and get a degree
I saw an article today that I found extremely worrying. It suggested that 16 bursaries were awarded to female matriculants who underwent a virginity test, and passed. In order to keep these “maiden” bursaries, the women must “remain pure” and undergo regular testing throughout their undergraduate degree. These bursaries are premised on the idea that […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, News/Politics
Neoliberal capitalism is a violence against women (16 days of activism)
Sixteen days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is upon us again this year. As usual it will come and go but very little will change for the majority of women and children in South Africa. The middle class will be a little more aware of the heinous gender-based violence statistics that […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence
20 000 women, for nothing?
Twenty thousand women marched in 1956 and changed the world. We celebrate them this month. They are certainly worthy. **** Some time ago, I went for an interview. When asked by the panel why I wanted to leave the job I was in at the time, I responded that I was tired of the institutional […]
Posted inGender violence, Media
Stick to just selling the shoes, Marie Claire
Men in heels illicit two emotions, either absolute jealousy at how amazing their legs look or comic relief. Very rarely will men in a pair of patents ever make you stop and think, “You know what, gender-based violence is the worst.” Not often will it make someone think, “As a man, do I engage in […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence
We need to change our attitude toward women, not just rape
One of the rapists in the brutal gang rape of a student in Delhi in 2012 has said the victim was to blame for the attack. “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” Mukesh Singh said in an interview. “A decent girl won’t roam around at 9 o’clock at night … […]
Posted inGender violence
Kenyan men extend sex boycott
Men supposedly have a new weapon: sex. I am extremely uncomfortable with this because, I thought it was our weapon but according to Kenyan men it is on like Donkey Kong and women in the country are being denied sex. A men’s rights group in Kenya, Maendeleo ya Wanaume, called for a sexual boycott in […]