Men come to the gender equality party

Equality in combat: Women were admitted to the army in 2007
Equality in combat: Women were admitted to the army in 2007

Despite progress on some fronts, women still endure various forms of discrimination, harassment, violence, marginalisation and exclusion across the globe. These include femicide, genital mutilation, child marriages, trafficking, domestic abuse and sexual assault, or young girls not permitted to drive, wear pants or progress beyond a particular glass ceiling in their chosen profession. Mmegi Correspondent, KELETSO THOBEGA observes that men are, however, getting onto the bandwagon of gender equality and empowerment

While gender issues and women empowerment are often considered to be female-only terrain, more men are coming out to publicly support women’s efforts for equality and opportunities. Post-millennium, it appears many organisations and individuals now understand the need for men to participate in the women’s movement and help end almost 2,000 years of men’s patriarchy.

In progressive and first world countries, feminism is becoming the intellectual framework that both men and women use to analyse political, economic, and social issues because the empowerment of women is crucial to solving a lot of seemingly unrelated problems that are as important to men as they are to women without creating reverse discrimination.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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