I am not a South African, although I feel I belong here. I feel African in my veins. I am a pale African. I love this great country. Nelson Mandela felt like a spiritual father to me. He inspires me. 

I am still an outsider. Belonging in this country is difficult. Most communities are pretty closed. They all have their own struggles so we look after our own. In my years that I have lived in South Africa, nothing shocks and annoys me more than the role of the woman in this country. 

We are supposed to be a nation, leading the world when it comes to transformation. We got rid of the cruel discrimination of Apartheid. In the eyes of the world, WE are the leading nation that makes a multicultural society work. I feel there is another fight on our hands - poverty, empowerment, better education and my biggest issue: Female Discrimination. 

Women continue to have a bad deal in this country. This is not connected to race or geographical groups, but a statement that will apply to most of South Africa. In the Zulu culture, men - Like our own President Zuma , have more than one wife. How does that feel for the women? In the Afrikaans culture, women are lucky if they get to leave their kitchen, in the English culture women still have to submit to the men... 



I am surprised that men get away with this constant domination over the female sex. Surely we have moved past these days a long time ago? When Black, Coloured, Indian, White and any other race became "officially equal" in South Africa about 20 years ago, did that also apply in making both sexes equal?

What is it with South African men that they like to dominate their, (but for that matter )every, woman around them. Your family is not an army unit with the man as the general. Woman are secondary citizens in this society. Apartheid was supported by various religious groups who thrived under that system. Today, some of those same and other religious groups still put a strong emphasis on woman submitting and following rather than developing into who they should be. 

Stereotypes still apply in this country. While I have no problem with the woman staying at home to look after the children, I also equally have no problem with women pursuing careers and the men staying at home! Yes men you hear that right! That is an option! This kind of thinking is offensive for too many people. 

I am baffled by the seemingly slow transformation of woman in this society and for that matter in the whole world. We need more women to speak up. We need more input of woman in business, politics and in general life. 

I think the time for woman is arriving to speak up and to be heard. We, men, should be brave enough to listen to the other 51% of the world. 

So if you are a lady reading this. You are not a princess good enough to be fought over and afterwards to be put in a dominating man's castle. You are person, valued, who has something to add to this world. Please find courage and speak up. YOU need to be heard. 

If you are bloke reading this take some time to be silent and create space for the women around us. We might all be surprised how society changes for the better. 



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