DR SHEETAL BHOOLA
Over the last decades, post the transformative democratic governance and progressive constitution that protects women's rights and demands safety and respect for them, only a section of our society can truly celebrate this day.
We remember our heroines such as Sophie de Bruin, Albertina Sisulu, Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Helen Joseph and Lilian Ngoyi as they were central in the national fight for the progression of women's rights. But in hindsight, have we let these stalwarts down by not progressing adequately and timeously?
Women in South Africa are still the most impoverished and unemployed. Statistics South Africa released a study last year that indicated that women constitute a more significant proportion of the unemployed population of South Africans than their male counterparts.
These financial gaps become further entrenched when one realises that despite 42% of parliamentary seats occupied by women in our country, this statistic is a small proportion of the female population in South Africa and middle- to upper-class.
The plight continues in so many spheres. As women continue to join the workforce, there is a notable trend of inconsistency. Often, women between the ages of 30 and 45 must opt for part-time jobs, early retirement, and flexible employment options to child-rear, manage households and fulfill motherly duties.
In a society that deems itself progressive through representing an increased percentage of women in Parliament, we still need to prioritise the development of functional and reliable caregiving systems and programmes that can effectively support women in the workforce or corporate sector.
In countries such as Denmark and Belgium, places of employment have functional childcare centres at work. This is exceptionally important for South African women, especially at the breastfeeding stage of childcare and development.
Women categorised as middle class and employed often have to rely on domestic help, extended family members, and friends to assist with childcare responsibilities. In addition, these approaches have added costs.
The after-school after-care facilities are usually expensive. The extra financial costs for a woman to be part of the employed sector in South Africa remain unaccounted for. These financial costs contribute towards women continually being poorer than their male counterparts.
Corporate sectors and industries should make provisions to assist women by providing childcare facilities as an incentive for female employees. Female employees from the lower sects of society are still dependent on elderly parents and other family members to assist with child pick-ups and drop-offs and other caring responsibilities.
Domestic workers, too, have little or no support from their employers and live in the hope that their employers will be considerate of their family's needs. This is often not guaranteed by the employer.
Women are still earning far less than men nationally and globally. According to a survey conducted in 2021 by SA-TIED (Southern Africa –Towards Inclusive Economic Development), women in South Africa earn 78 cents for every rand a man earns in the formal employment sector. The long-term impact of this is that women, as entrepreneurs and professionals, struggle to save and retire with far less finances than their male colleagues.
In addition, only 3.3% of employers are female, whereas male employers have an accumulative total of over 7% in South Africa. Other challenges, such as accessing business funds, financial products and services, have been complex for women in South Africa.
Political economist Tinuade Adekunbi Ojo indicated that her research found that women entrepreneurs had to find male partners so that they could be afforded the time by relevant financial stakeholders.
The patriarchy is further entrenched as South African governmental policies do not address situations and circumstances specific to women in business. These policies are designed to support the male breadwinner primarily.
There has been a shift in society whereby men are no longer the only breadwinners, and households are often headed by single female parents. Therefore, these policies need to be redeveloped to become more relevant to South African society in the current context.
Furthermore, business challenges experienced by women employers and bosses have also not been adequately highlighted to the public. These challenges are often further entrenched because of patriarchal structures, policies in banking and the male dictatorship that sits in decision-making seats at the top of the corporate ladder.
Ojo explained that South African women might have a bank account but still have difficulty accessing other financial products or services. In her research, she found that women entrepreneurs sometimes had to partner with a man before being heard by financial stakeholders. Government policies were not designed to address the particular situations women face running a business.
Support for women is crucial as we continue to fight for a thriving economy. The continual lack of childcare facilities hinders the overall growth of the economy. Women in the workforce need to be supported appropriately through equal pay, accessible childcare facilities, and advancements in the world of entrepreneurship.
Therefore, Women's Day can indeed be celebrated by the section of society that occupy seats in Parliament and have managed to climb the corporate hierarchy through multiple avenues. Often, these women reign from the upper classes.
The remainder of society, which comprises middle- to lower-income women, is still trying to fight the same cause that the stalwarts fought decades ago.
The government should intervene and propose appropriate measures to support women's economic growth and professional development. Their continual contributions to the economy need to be applauded and acknowledged appropriately.
Dr Sheetal Bhoola is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Zululand, and the director at StellarMaths (Phoenix & Sunningdale).
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