IF I COULD WHISPER IN MY SON’S EAR. CONVERSATIONS BY MEN, FOR MEN.
Over the years, South Africa has observed 16 days of Activism specifically to address the scourge of violence and femicide against women and children. It is a time for a nation’s reflection and the search for a collective solution to this problem.
The data shared by Statistics SA regarding Gender Based Violence and Femicide indicate that South Africa scores five times higher than any other country in the world.
This conversation has been spearheaded mostly by women, speaking out and protesting against GBVF. This year, The Mail & Guardian would like to take a different approach.
We seek to hear from South African men from all walks of life having a candid conversation with each other and the next generation of men on this subject.
The Mail & Guardian brings you a four-part series “If I Could Whisper in My Son’s Ear – Conversations by men, for men.” This campaign will run from 25 Nov to 10 Dec where we will showcase a series of compelling, visually engaging conversations/interviews that seeks to bring our country closer to unpacking the unspoken or underlying triggers/causes of rape culture, mental and psychological abuse of women and children.
VODACOM Speaks Out about GBV
During the Covid-19 lockdown, there was an alarming increase in GBV. Recognising the need for action, the Vodacom Foundation recently announced the launch of a cutting-edge application to fight GBV in South Africa, which coincides with the annual United Nations’ 16...
GBV STATS SOUTH AFRICA
- A woman is murdered every 3 hours in SA (2017/18)
- The death rate for women in SA is 12.5 per 100K (2016)
- 15.2 murders for every 100K adult women in SA (2017/2018)
- 3.3% of SA men think it is acceptable to hit a woman
- 7.7% of SA men believe it is acceptable to hit his wife (2018)
- 1.3% of men consider striking a woman is acceptable if woman burns food (2018)
- 250 out of every 100K women were victims of sexual offenses (2016/2017)
- The number of women raped per 100K is 138. (2017/2018)
- 33.8% of women think it is acceptable for a husband to hit his wife.
- 2nd most reported crimes by women is and assault (62%+)
- South Africa is one of the most violent places in the world, ranked 38 out of 163.
- 1,024 female were murdered by an intimate partner (2009)
- Rape femicide was identified in every 1 in 5 women killed (19.8%)
- Only 1 in 23 women who reported sexual abuse also reported to the police.
- Almost half (46%) of sexual offense complainants are children
- 38% of women have experienced physical &/or sexual partner violence Gauteng (2011)
The statistics shared above clearly indicate how our societal and cultural belief systems regarding gender and authority can adversely affect a nation’s population through the subjugation of a specific group/demographic or gender.
This being said, we as the Media are tasked with the responsibility to not only report factual and independent news, but to positively influence a nation through the stories we tell. In this regard, our theme seeks to encourage South Africans to adopt a new dispensation.
Aside from breaking down generational dogma regarding the place of women as is the norm with the current male population, it is imperative that South Africa fosters a new generation of men and boys who respect the sanctity of life and value everyone’s role and presence within our society. Our men must teach boys by being living examples.
It is said, “When you heal the boy, the man appears.” – Anonymous.