Parliamentary caucus advocates gender parity
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday March 9, 2016 17:51
Yesterday, women in Parliament took turns to encourage gender equality and shared their personal experiences.
While strides have been made in gender equality in the public and private sector, Parliament remains a predominantly male environment with only five women MPs and a female Speaker of Parliament, out of 61 members.
Chair of the parliamentary caucus on women, Botlogile Tshireletso strongly cautioned against women who look down on themselves, especially at the workplace.
She said gone are the days when some particular jobs were only meant for males and or females. “Back then particular jobs were only for our male counterparts, but these days more women now head leadership positions. I wait for the day when we will have a female president ruling this country.
“It is very sad when you hear other women gossiping about their female boss, with some going to the extent of comparing her leadership with a male.
“This shows we do not have faith in our own,” she said. For her part, Foreign Affairs and International Corporation minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi also advocated against marital rape, saying this was one of the main issues the committee would be tackling this year.
“Marital rape is real. Some women do not even know what it is, even when it’s happening to them. It does exist and it does not only happen to women.
“Men are also raped in marriages and these are some of the issues we intend to tackle whilst we are still in Parliament,” she said.
Venson-Moitoi also cautioned against office romances, which she said many women had fallen prey to. She said such relationships should be avoided at all costs even though this may be difficult.
“I was the very first woman permanent secretary, and yes I did hear people gossiping about how I made it. Some even said I had slept my way to the top. These are situations that most women find themselves in, but should be avoided at all costs, if you can.”
Minister of Health, Dorcas Makgato said in many cases, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) occurs when the man in the house is unable to care for the family.
“Originally the man was the hunter and gatherer, and the woman was made to nurture the family. Nowadays that is not the case. We have more and more women who are now working.
“When the same woman gets home tired from her day job, the man at home then expects her to carry out homely chores.
“This usually leads to fighting within the home causing GBV because the man would be frustrated that he is failing to be the hunter and gatherer,” she said.
International Women’s Day was first held in 1914 in Germany. The day was initially held to observe and dedicate women’s right to vote, which German women did not enjoy until 1918.