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One such discussion I heard while in a commuter omnibus on Monday was when one man joked that with this gender equality and women empowerment measures, it was likely that soon women will be paying lobola and men eloping.
The outspoken middle-aged man said there was no reason why males should continue paying the bride price if the control in the home was being given to women. Someone even added that soon, most men will be left homeless, running away from this gender equality issue.
Some even doubted the applicability of the gender equality clauses that have been introduced under the Draft Constitution. Surprisingly, some women also joined in the discussion attacking gender equality.
This clearly showed that a number of people do not understand gender equality and there is need for activists to provide more information.
Although not yet operational, the law carries an assortment of measures aimed at improving the social status of women in the country.
At first, I thought the discussion was centred on the fact that people did not understand gender equality and the reason for coming up with such laws but as the conversation went on, I felt that there is need for people to be educated on the gender discourse.
Gender equality is the measurable equal representation of women and men. It does not imply men and women are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment. Under the equality of sexes there is equal visibility, empowerment and participation of both sexes in all spheres of public and private life.
According to the United Nations, it requires the acceptance and appreciation of the complementary roles of women and men in society and is critical for development. This is the reason why gender equity is part of the Millennium Development Goals. It is a fact that gender roles are a construct of the society hence the importance to ensure that its teachings are changed to ensure that treatment of both men and women is equal.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) argues such social roles, responsibilities and behaviours believed to belong to men and women; have nothing to do not biological differences between males and females but are a construction by the society. This is the fibre that new laws seek to attack not because it wants to demean men’s role in the family and in the country but harness the energies of the other sex in national development.
It is not a donor driven issue as other people have often suggested but a necessity.
It is unfortunate if we are to take empowerment of women and gender balance (a noble idea) into a battle of disarming men as that will surely not see the country reaching its desired goal.
Online Reporter