We need to dismantle the Language of Protectionism when we talk about violence towards women - The female perspective.
What do we talk about when we talk about violence towards women?
This is a question worth asking at a time when conversation, dialogue, and speech are promoted as our central strategies for changing how women live and die in South African.
For talk, in of itself, is not automatically transformative.
Indeed, it is entirely possible to be both concerned by violence and to speak in ways that reproduce and uphold the norms that make violence possible.
Take the repeated calls on men to stand up, man up, and protect women and children.
Not only do these exhortations collapse women into children, but they also resurrect a particular vocabulary of patriarchal authority.
This is a language whose roots extend deep into the 19th and early 20th centuries when women's delicate constitutions and fragile natures required them to be shielded from the rigours of thought, exercise and work.
Once cast in such defenceless and enfeebling terms, they could only but rely on men's exercise of their paternalistic duties. And where women were without protectors, they were often simply treated as fair game by other men.
Protectionism also functioned as a convenient tool for the domination of other men.
In colonial contexts like South Africa, white men's duty to protect white women's virtue was frequently used to curtail and control black men's movements and work opportunities.
This is the history we invoke when we draw upon the language of protectionism.
But even if we try and update protectionism for the 21st century, it will still rely on conservative gender ideologies that position women as perpetual victims and men as their guardians.
Changing this requires a change in the ways we speak about violence – shifting our language from women's protection to women's freedom, a freedom that includes both freedom from violence, as well as the freedom to live, work and love as one chooses.
Originally published by myself at huffingtonpost
Patriarchy does not exist, we don't live in a world that favors men.
Perhaps not your part of the world, but much of the developing world is still patriarchal.
I grew up in what many call the third world. Why do you think the way the world works benefits men?
Come visit rural Africa
I'm asking for your opinion, how do you know a trip to rural Africa will clarify things for me? I want to understand how you perceive this patriarchy thing, what it looks like from your POV. I don't want to be sent to a link or to other lands, I want to hear it from you because you think this is important.
When you read this post, which I presume you did, besides the word patriarchy, did you notice that the material was applicable to the language and discourse surrounding violence in South Africa?
I can totally understand your desire to create awareness about the violence women experience in Africa, but there's no need to talk about patriarchy to talk about female struggles. When you talk about patriarchy you want to establish that we live in a world where men benefit at the expense of women and that is what I am challenging.
How does this work in patriarchy if the system is built to benefit men?
This has nothing to do with authority, it has to do with making men believe they are here to enable women. Some people, specially those who believe in patriarchy, would have us think that the pressure to protect women benefits men somehow but this couldn't be more false.
All I am asking you is to help me understand your idea of patriarchy but I feel like you're giving me the run around.
Is this article about awareness about violence or the archaic nature of the discourse around violence? The "language of protectionism" resurrects patriarchal notions.
If you have some other overly generalist point i.e"Patriarchy does not exist, we don't live in a world that favors men.", go try to push it elsewhere, thanks.
Remember one thing change can happen only by the combination of both education and awareness..... Anyway nice post to read ..
We are all equal and deserve the same treatment... There isn't any difference between being a woman or a man.. At the end of the day we are human and everyone is unique and non replaceable.
I really do hope people grasp this further in the future and start acting like human beings.
Much support and love from me
Goldie
I agree. But I doubt people will ever start acting like humans. Not in our lifetime at least lol.
@trendo
The "ownership" of standing up against domestic violence might be cultural related because in my view it it not apllicable everywhere and in the Netherlands I have the feeling we talk about the topic and the solution, not the gender.
Actually domestic violence can also happen to man, done by woman although it might be taboo.
Tomorrow I'll cover the male perspective.
Yes I agree change will only come from education and awareness! ! Well written and well said!! Thank you for bringing awareness to such an important issue!!
I think in Africa we need to continue to empower women through education. We need to give them opportunities to grow. Once they are empowered they can stand up for their constitutional rights and make their voice heard. Many stay in abusive relationships because they are economically depressed. Violent people will always be there in society, whether men or women. I know of men who are abused by their wives. We need to create more awareness at all levels from internet, media, schools and learning institutions.
The way is always to find common interests. Let´s face our differences and respect/love them. There is no need for a "white knight" in this world, just respect.
A Bob Marley quote comes to my mind: "One good thing about music is, when it hits you, you feel no pain"
change can only happen with education, not awareness
That is the nature of the problem, it has cultural and other drivers as opposed to sheer ignorance that awareness could do something about.