An unbalanced society
The prevalent discrimination of females in South Africa, is one of the prominent reasons that leads to an unbalanced society.
An unbalanced society brings about a number of socio-economic problems like low life expectancy, mental illness, obesity, educational performance, teenage pregnancies, homicides, imprisonment rates, levels of trust and social mobility. An unbalanced society is typically on the worse end of a range of socio-economic indicators.
An unbalanced society brings about a number of socio-economic problems like low life expectancy, mental illness, obesity, educational performance, teenage pregnancies, homicides, imprisonment rates, levels of trust and social mobility. An unbalanced society is typically on the worse end of a range of socio-economic indicators.
gender-based violence
According to crime statistics released by the South African police in September 2011 (2011), seven women were killed every day between March 2010 and March 2011, of which half of the murders were at the hands of intimate partners. In the same period, almost 247 cases of common assault against women and 154 cases of rape were recorded by the police each day.
Research by the Medical Research Council and Genderlinks (2011) shows that more than 50% of women have experienced some sort of violence at the hands of their intimate partners and about 80% of men admit to having perpetrated gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence affects far too many lives for it to be overlooked. On the surface level, this violence inflicts physical and emotional pain and suffering upon the female. Dissolution of marriage, broken families, and ultimately, the social fabric bears the brunt of this violence.
Research by the Medical Research Council and Genderlinks (2011) shows that more than 50% of women have experienced some sort of violence at the hands of their intimate partners and about 80% of men admit to having perpetrated gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence affects far too many lives for it to be overlooked. On the surface level, this violence inflicts physical and emotional pain and suffering upon the female. Dissolution of marriage, broken families, and ultimately, the social fabric bears the brunt of this violence.
Why are females submissive?
South Africa is a traditionally patriarchal society. As such, men are viewed as more superior and females are thought as homemakers. Instead of protesting because of the unfair treatment, they accept it as a fact and even submit themselves to it. From a young age, girls grow up with the idea of submission -- to be hardworking and submissive -- to appeal to a man as a wife and mother. Females may also be unaware of their rights and used to the patriarchal tradition. Thus, they do not find the need to protest against or reform the system, which has been in place for a long time.
What are the implications of gender inequality on the people and society?
We have listed out below a few implications gender inequality has on the women in South Africa based on the constituents that makes up the Gender Inequality Index.
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Who, or what organisations are helping to improve this situation?
The South African government (African National Congress, or ANC) has a women wing, known as the African National Congress Women League. It was integrated into the ANC to represent women, and has since negotiated several constitutional provisions and policies in favour of women.
The South African Constitution provides a framework for the promotion of gender equality thus indirectly improving the participation of women in law making. The constitution consists of several provisions that advance gender equality. One of the examples is the Bill of Rights which ensures equal treatment for all South Africans. This bill places emphasis on the fact that measures must be taken to promote the achievement of equality in all fields or spheres of society. This Constitution also covers the Commission on Gender Equality which will be talked about more in depth in the section below.
The Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) is one of the six State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy called for in the 1996 Constitution, to promote gender equality, to advise and make recommendations to Parliament or any other legislature with regard to any laws or proposed legislation which affects gender equality and the status of females.
The Girls Education Movement (GEM) by UNICEF aims to provide girls a platform for them to complete their education, despite several factors inhibiting their schooling journey, including teenage pregnancies, HIV infection, etc.
Sonke Gender Justice is a non-profit organisation that works to create the change necessary for men, women, young people and children to enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships that contribute to the development of just and democratic societies. Sonke uses a human rights framework to build the capacity of government, civil society organisations and citizens to achieve gender equality, prevent gender-based violence, reduce the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS.