A vocal opponent of women abuse in Alexandra is determined to break the barriers of gender inequality which continues to enslave women and young girls.
Alexandra’s Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training organisation (Adapt), which works with young schoolgirls in Alexandra under their umbrella organisation, Young Women’s Movement, is working flat out to address the inequalities that still plague homes and society at large.
Adapt and the girls’ movement have jointly developed a set of plays that will be dramatised at the Olive Tree Theatre during Women’s Month, from 25 to 29 August.
Day one of the plays will feature music from the Amalungelo choir group.
Schoolgirls from Realogile and KwaBhekilanga high schools will stage the set of plays, with Realogile dramatising Unfinished Woman while KwaBhekilanga takes on Seat. It is hoped that the theatre shows will become an annual event for the benefit of the Alexandra community.
Adapt’s youth programme co-ordinator, Seipati Mogorosi, who is responsible for putting together the show in partnership with the Olive Tree Theatre, said at the end of each show there will a dialogue session which will involve community members and their organisations.
Mogorosi said the dialogue sessions will endeavour to debate and address the gender imbalances that still exist in homes and the community, with a view to finding lasting solutions that can amicably find ways to achieve gender parity.
Some of the imbalances still inherent in the communities and the society at large include the value placed on boys, who are often regarded as more valuable than their mothers and sisters.
“If you’re a man and your peers find you washing dishes or sharing what has traditionally been regarded as chores for women, they will say ojele or ojesetswe [been given a love potion],” said Mogorosi.
“This has led to men boxing themselves in their own home to such an extent that they sit and wait for a woman to make them tea. They sit and read a newspaper all day and when they are hungry they do not prepare food in fear of being caught by their peers and end up being [called] all sorts of names.
“We hope everybody will join us on the dates mentioned and help us in breaking these barriers.”
