A Few Bad Apples
As the old saying goes "its just a few bad apples". People tend to take that to mean there are only a few that are rotten and that the rest are good. In fact, the entire saying is "a few bad apples spoil the bunch", which means that those "few" are doing far more damage to the whole. But the continuing brutal and savage murder of woman in our country shows that this is not just a case of a few bad apples, but an entire orchard that is rotten.
Women's Death Rate in South Africa
Whether it is rape, sexual harassment or murder; violence against woman in this country has become a pandemic. The safety of our friends, family members, girlfriends, spouses, and children has come under threat. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO): in 2016, the age-standardized interpersonal violence death rate for the female population in South Africa was 12.5 per 100 000. To put that into perspective that is 4.8 times greater than the global average. And that number has gone up to 15.2 as of 2017/18. In 2016, South Africa had the fourth highest female interpersonal violence death rate out of a 183 countries listed by the WHO.
All these statistics cannot begin to describe the absolute fear and terror women in South Africa face on a daily basis. As well as the pain and anguish felt by those who have lost someone to such senseless violence. This has struck at the very heart of our nation, shining a light on the most atrocious aspects of our humanity.
Men Should Take Action
Thanks to social media this is no longer a subject relegated to the shadows of society. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp have begun to let the cries of those effected be heard, it has put a face to all the victims of such vile crimes. But that isn't enough - it’s far from being enough. It is our responsibility, and duty as men to combat this threat to the lives of the women of this country. It no longer helps to just speak up against femicide, it is up to us to take action and make an active change in a society where the chief of police has more to say about banning alcohol than about the scores of woman being found dead across the country. We need to start teaching our boys to respect women, to see not just an object to be won or taken. It is time we end the cycle of toxic masculinity that raises men to be sexual predators. We need to hold each other accountable, and not look away when we see these things happen.
The Ideal World
I think of my nieces and the kind of country they may have to grow up in, where simply for being born a girl their lives will be in constant peril. The lessons I will need to teach them so they can remain safe. This thought terrifies me in ways I didn't think possible. It’s really about time we stop making excuses and defending ourselves, it’s time we cut down and burn this orchid of violence and horror and begin to grow one where little girls will no longer grow up afraid.