In an era characterised by challenges hindering development and present opportunities, the theme “Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment” for this year’s Women’s Month resonates deeply in South Africa.
Women’s socio-economic rights include the right to access economic opportunities, healthcare, education and freedom from abuse and discrimination.
It is crucial that South Africa prioritise women’s empowerment to signify commitment to the global sustainable development goals, which include the furtherance of gender equality by 2030.
Empowering women to recognise that their growth is the cornerstone of societal advancement. The quest must be a transformative movement that has the power to reshape the world into a more equitable and inclusive place.
Historically, South Africa has experienced challenges in achieving gender equality, despite strides made increasing the number of women who hold seats at the national, provincial, and local levels of government and the private sector (26,5% of the top positions and 37,2% in senior management positions), the gender gap is far from being bridged.
Also, the reality of unemployment among women, estimated at 80,6%, paints a stark picture of untapped potential and unrealised aspirations in values of inclusivity and striving for progress, particularly among women in vulnerable communities grappling with limited employment opportunities.
The 2023 Gender Social Norms Index from the United Nations, covering 85 countries, revealed that 9 out of 10 people of all genders have a bias against women.
The report also pointed out that half of the people in 80 countries believe that men are better political leaders, 40% believe that men are better corporate chief executive officers and 25% believe that it is acceptable and justifiable to beat their wives.
Data on South Africa reveals that 97,3% of people have fundamental biases against women, especially on issues of intimate partner violence, political power, and economic power.
Women often struggle to strike a balance between their work and family responsibilities, which can hinder their career advancement.
More than 40% of South African homes are headed by a single female breadwinner and 41,7% of children live with single mothers. This brunt of overwhelming stress and exhaustion is evident in the Deloitte report of May 2022, which revealed that 40% of South African women feel burned out, 51% stated that their stress levels were higher than a year ago, 43% reported poor or extremely poor mental health, while 40% anticipate leaving their current positions within the next two years, with 31% citing burnout.
In paving the way for women’s empowerment, access to quality education and vocational training must prioritise women so that they have the relevant skills to secure long-term employment and financial independence. To break the barriers, it is key to actively encourage girls and women to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem).) Prof. Brownhilder Neneh is head of the Department of Business Management at the University of the Free State (UFS).
