POLOKWANE – For Catherine Mavi, raising her daughters and their daughters was about teaching them to never give up and fight for their rights.
The Polokwane Observer spoke to Catherine Mavi (grandmother), Mimie Moselenyane (mother) and Bokang Moselenyane (daughter) about their understanding of Women’s Month and how her and Moselenyane’s life experiences have impacted the way they raise their offspring.
Catherine said the month is for commemorating women fighting for gender equality as well as remembering those before us who fought for our rights.
“I was honoured to have worked closely with Sophia De Bruyn and Rita Ndzanga who participated in the 1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings and we are blessed that they are still alive. Working with them imparted the importance of woman in our country and the struggles we face,” she said.
Read more: Remembering why South Africa celebrates Women’s Day
For Mimie, Woman’s Day means appreciating and busking in the hard work of the women who worked hard so that the following generations can be the best versions of themselves.
“I have seen my mom in the struggle, fighting with other woman for the freedom, rights and gender equality of woman. I also saw her raising six children; three daughters and three sons on her own,” she shared.
It is for this reason that she believes that women need to be celebrated for all the sacrifices that they made.
For Bokang, Women’s Day is about gender equality and remembering those before us that fought for the things we take for granted today. “I am inspired by the lessons learnt from my grandmother to know that I am capable of doing anything I want whether it’s in a male dominated industry or not,” she said.
Catherine said she wanted her daughters to learn to never give up and fight for their rights. “Do not submit to any oppression. Know we are all equal before the laws of our country,” she said.
Mimie said she experienced anxiety about how to raise her daughter. She wanted to be a mother and a friend, and build a safe space for her daughter to open up about anything.
“I want my daughter to be able to dress and express herself without having to be victimized or potentially raped,” she explained.
Mavi and Mimie share the sentiment of setting goals and taking up space without fear or doubt. These are the values that Mimie was brought up on and she is imparting the same beliefs to her daughter who is doing exceptionally well in pageantry.
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