Feisty Arlene Adams, the interim president of the DA Women’s Network (Dawn), says there was little to celebrate this Women’s Month.
Dawn recently made headlines after it defended party leader John Steenhuisen's comment associating his former wife with “roadkill”. Roadkill in slang relates to one that has failed or been defeated.
The comments were made during an interview in a Podcast and Chill episode.
Stefanie Ueckermann, Dawn Gauteng chairperson said this week women "should not be oversensitive".
Speaking to Weekend Argus, Adams, 57, said women have a bigger battle to fight like the war being waged against the country’s woman in GBV, femicide, and abductions, “many women have very little to celebrate”.
The 57-year-old took over Dawn’s leadership from Western Cape Health MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo, just over a year ago.
Women’s Month pays tribute to more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956 to protest the apartheid government’s extension of Pass Laws to women.
In 1995, the government commemorated the country’s first official Women’s Day on August 9, and ever since, Women’s Day and the entire month of August have been observed as a celebration of women achievement.
“Women are both under-represented in leading positions, whether in elected office, civil service, the private sector or academia,” Adams said.
Women form 56% of the national voter base, but according to Adams, women remain the survivors and victims of social engineering that prohibits and hinders them from leadership roles.
“Women face several obstacles to participating in political life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws, and institutions still limit women’s options to run for office,” said Adams.
“Capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders,” she said.
Adams offered a broader perspective on being a South African women.
“Women are still the face of poverty, violence and economic injustice, while they have to carry the burden of raising the future generations, as 70% of children live without fathers. The social engineering is against women,” she said.
The mother-of-two said women should empower themselves, even in the smallest of ways.
“Everyday is a new day to improve yourself, whether it is through self care, to seek out opportunities to learn, strive towards a better future at all times.
“Never give up on yourself. Challenge the status quo of inequalities and of discrimination,” she said.
Adams said it’s the constant biases and discrimination that plagues women every day that made her strong. She wanted to flip the script.
"I feel I’m thriving as a woman of strength following my own passions, purpose and destiny, I don’t allow men’s discrimination towards me to determine who I am,“ she said.
Adams said she works harder than her pay cheque to enhance the lives of other women.
“If I lecture or work in the communities, I give 100%.
“I work harder than my pay cheque ... My goal is to enhance the lives of others, and also to stay focused on my personal journey with my family ... I have utilised every opportunity to study and to obtained my PhD in Psychology,” she said.
Who is Adams when she is behind closed doors?
“I’m passionate about life, hence, I pursue joy, peace and happiness.
“I have come to learn to enjoy my life, every day I make an effort to enjoy life. I provide myself with enough music and dance therapy by listening to various genres of music and I’ve learned to dance, even if I have to dance alone. I live who I am, 100%,” she said.
Adams said women need to be taken more seriously in a male-dominated political arena which was often challenging.
“Men of equal qualifications, easily get recognised and get full-time positions, but it’s not the same for women. Not even if your qualifications and competencies are far more superior than that of the people who get the positions,” she said.
While Women’s Month is a significant reminder of the great women who have shaped the country, it is up to this generation to continue to level up.
Weekend Argus