Editorial: Respect women equally

By Mashilo Mnisi (BTM Editor)

July 27, 2007: There’s a culture of equality and sensitivity towards gender that South Africa espoused, which, I think, is thriving in almost all spheres. This country is one of those which protect, support and respect women resulting from the many years of subjugation women endured under patriarchy and apartheid.

The South African government treats anything that has to do with women with a lot of sensitivity that ranges from supporting and protecting them financially, socially and politically.

Women are being empowered in many ways, and it’s everyone’s accountability to do that as it redresses the past imbalance that disadvantaged women. Look at the South African Parliament and Cabinet, women were being encouraged to occupy high profile seats and lucrative jobs just for the sake of women empowerment, and well, I could also say some of them are not even capable.

The country will do anything to support and protect women, but there’s a domain of women [lesbians] – perhaps for the government they’re not women – who are perpetually being closed outside.

Next week is women’s month where campaigns of support and protection towards women will be launched. But on the contrary, lesbians as women are being treated differently.

Not only in this country, lesbians are being victimised, attacked, raped or murdered but most of these ills are just being pushed under the carpet. With the recent murders of two lesbian activists in Soweto, one can attest that some members of the general society don’t respect lesbians and don’t see them as women.

Lesbians are entitled to support and protection like any other woman. They need to see their issues being addressed in the right manner and justice.

Lesbians are women, phew! And they will be celebrating women’s month as well starting next week.