The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says progressive men should not be marginalised and isolated as they can contribute immensely and constructively in the struggle against patriarchy. In her Women’s Day message, Gina says the South African society must guard against isolating progressive men who can be the most effective advocates of gender equality and economic empowerment of women just because every man is presumably patriarchal in their DNA.
“Today marks an important day in our national calendar, the national Women’s Day. As women, we continue to demand our rightful place under the sun and we must not be timid in discharging our agency in sitting in the same dinner table where power resides. In many ways, women have proven wrong the myth that men are natural breadwinners in all facets of life. The notion that this is a men’s world must continue to be struggled against,” says Gina.
“But we should not be ballistic in our quest for non-sexist society and fighting patriarchy. We need to engage, educate and handhold men in this journey as our ally in our arsenal against the patriarchs, the sexists and women abusers. We must guard against isolating progressive men who can be our most effective advocates just because we regard all men as patriarchal in their DNA,” urges Gina in her message.
This year’s Women Month is celebrated under the theme: “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”. The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign and links South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030.
“As I wish all our women in South Africa in general, and the department and our agencies in particular, happy Women’s Day, I urge you to hold each other up in the professional space than competing. I urge all of you to see every career rise of a woman as representing all the women. Those in management must incubate the junior women for future career pathing,” concludes Gina.
Women’s Day is celebrated in South Africa on 9 August every year to pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
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E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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