SenseOnline today joins in celebrating the treasures of our society on Women’s Day. But should every day not be women’s day? 

The Women’s March

On 9 August 1956 20 000 women staged a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest proposed changes to the notorious apartheid pass laws. There they left petitions containing over 100 000 signatures.

The multiracial march organised as part of the broad African National Congress defiance campaign was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. For the occasion a song was composed, Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo! (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock), which has now become the call: you strike a woman, you strike a rock.

Mothers of the Nation

The march of 54 years ago has come to symbolise the role of women in the liberation struggle and the building of a new democratic South Africa. But we have to ask ourselves, have women really been liberated?

Most evidence in South Africa reveals that for the other 364 days of the year women are mostly treated as second class citizens. This is everywhere from the home to the workplace and their relationship with men. We urgently need to change that so that each day of the year is a celebration of the power and beauty of women.

HIV/Aids & Gender Violence

Women are more likely to contract HIV/Aids than men. Statistically, one third of women and one quarter males between the ages of 26 and 35 in South Africa are infected with the virus. Certain cultural practices and a lack of education place women at a severe disadvantage when it comes to protection from the scourge.

Making matters worse are the very high incidences of gender violence in the country. According to Avert: ‘Violence against women, including sexual violence, is very widespread in South Africa. In a large survey, more than four-in-ten South African men reported to have been physically violent to an intimate partner. Over a quarter of men reported ever having raped a woman with nearly one-in-twenty committing rape in the previous year. Little difference was found in the HIV prevalence of men who had raped a woman compared to those who had not. However, the generally high HIV prevalence among all men surveyed means there is a good chance that a man who commits rape has HIV.

‘The disempowerment of South African women – revealed by such high levels of rape and domestic abuse – is a factor in the country’s HIV epidemic. Women who are unable to negotiate safer sex and the use of condoms will inevitably be at a greater risk of HIV. Research has found that women who have been physically and sexually assaulted by their partners, as well as those who are in relationships with men who have a greater degree of control over them, are at a higher risk of HIV infection.’

Sexual Orientation

The South African Constitution does not differentiate on the basis of sexual orientation, but tell that to the vast majority of the people. Black lesbians are shunned by their communities; often raped with the belief this will make them ‘straight’; or murdered.

Our politicians are supposed to uphold the Constitution, but the minister of arts and culture, the supremely ineffective Lulu Xingwana, in 2009 infamously walked out of a photographic exhibition by activist artist Zanele Muholi because some of the pictures featured nude lesbian couples. What possible message does this send about tolerance, let alone the rights of all women to choose what they want to do with their bodies?

This is not only a problem for black women as the Constitution does not reflect our general deeply conservative attitudes. Muslim women are hardly able to express themselves, let alone sexually. And a white congregant was kicked in the crotch in Pretoria by the pastor of her church to cure her lesbianism.

The Workplace & Business

Women are discriminated against in the workplace. They often hold the most menial positions; do not receive equal compensation to men; and find advancement more difficult. The glass ceiling is not a myth.

In business women are not taken as seriously as men and are alarmingly under-represented on the boards of companies. Though there is legislation in place to correct this, it is often ignored or fudged-over.

You Strike a Rock

It has to be said, women are often the worst enemies of women. Some of the most vehement opponents of abortion and free choice of sexual orientation are women. And the men who commit atrocities against women were raised by women.

So it is time women stood up as they did on 9 August 1956 to say with one voice: Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock. Not just today, but every day of the year. Stand together and take back what is rightfully yours – and don’t give an inch.