August is the designated month during which special attention is given to women of South Africa.
Approximately 20 000 South African women of all races marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 to protest against the pass laws, which the government amended also to apply to women.
These laws enforced different residential areas for different races and led to forced removals of people living in the ‘wrong’ areas.
The 9th of August was declared a public holiday in South Africa and Women’s Day has being celebrated on this date ever since.
Although this is the history behind Women’s Day in South Africa, the struggles of women from all spheres of life to participate in society as equals to men are celebrated internationally on 8th March.
In short, the connotation we have of Women’s Day mainly reflects empathy for women struggling to have their rights recognised.
I do, however, wish to make a remark about observing some men who do just that.
In my experience, I have encountered men who acknowledge the importance of their daughters having access to education as well as men allowing their female partners to further their studies and careers. There are also men who acknowledge their wives’ essential role in maintaining the household and the value her input has in financial terms.
I have met men leaving no stone unturned to enable their wives and daughters to have access to health services.
There are also men who unconditionally support their wives and girlfriends through challenging life experiences such as losing a loved one, pregnancy en sickness.
I have worked with men who accept their parental responsibilities wholeheartedly and understand that this really means acting in such a way that it will enable a positive relationship with his children’s mother that will produce well-adapted children, regardless of the family structure.
In light of the struggles women have fought in the past, I would like to dedicate this week’s column to men who enable women to be the best mothers and wives they possibly can be by acknowledging their worth and by protecting their rights and dignity.
These men are the cornerstones of our society and deserve our appreciation and recognition.
Please share your experiences on SandriAppelgryn@gmail.com.
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Also read:
More to Women’s Month than just the 9th
Big Women’s Month celebrations in Simunye
Every month should be Women’s Month
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