The month of August in the South African calendar provides an encouragement for us to turn our attention to the position of women in our country. While the 9th of August was chosen as the date for a public holiday – in commemoration of the 1956 women’s march against the pass laws that regulated the lives of women of colour in apartheid South Africa – there is a great deal more that deserves attention in terms of the place of women in our country.
In some senses, it seems odd that we still need this kind of focus: in so many parts of the world, women have been able to take their places as equal partners to men in their societies, enjoying significant levels of equality.
But this is, unfortunately, not the case in our country, where extensive systemic disparities continue, notwithstanding the equality that our Constitution promises. We face one of the highest rates of Gender-based violence and femicide globally. In addition, women in our society suffer an unequal burden in terms of health issues; are more likely to be unemployed than men; less likely to enter the labour market and earn a living; and consistently face a significant wage gap.
And so, when we hear of women who are leaders in their fields, we should acknowledge their achievements even more – if for no other reason than to show that it’s possible to break these barriers. It’s with this in mind that this month, the Cape Jewish Chronicle shares some inspirational stories of women from our community who are truly doing great things: pushing the boundaries in fields women are not traditionally part of; initiating meaningful interventions to improve the lives of others; and achieving at the highest levels in their fields.
