Women are mothers, sisters, colleagues, wives and daughters and over the years many feminist movements have highlighted the plight of gender inequality, which is still present in today’s modern society.
Rhema Bible Church in Bromhof, Randburg, hosted an international conference on gender equality to challenge the perception of gender inequality within the South African context.
Outgoing Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela was the keynote speaker at the event on 14 September that was attended by international church bodies as well as residents and churchgoers alike.
Pastor Ray McCauley introduced Madonsela after a brief speech where he encouraged the church to continue fighting against social ills. “There is so much abuse and rape, including the ‘blesser’ phenomenon that has gripped us as a society, and we need to embrace gender equality and continue to speak and teach about it,” he said. He encouraged men to support their sisters and to help them achieve their full potential.
Madonsela pointed out that in the past, women were seen as not good enough to become lawyers or to occupy positions of leadership and influence – all they were good for was to raise children and do household chores.
“If love is what drove us, we wouldn’t worry about who is more equal than the other, as we all deserve love and we all deserve to fulfill our potential,”she said.
Madonsela spoke at length about the efforts and standpoint of the courts in regard to gender inequality and applauded the courts for taking a strong stand against the rape of women and children. She explained that rape is rape, no matter what the woman was wearing, and said that she was glad the courts were also starting to see it this way.
“If we are going to degrade women, we are degrading ourselves as a society. If we let other women be degraded, it’s our loss because degradation creates resentment. A society that harms women, harms life at the source,” Madonsela said.
Details: Rhema Bible Church 011 796 4000.
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