Equality, yes – but mind the differences

Women’s Day on August 9 receives greater media attention and hype than South Africa’s patronal feast, the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven.

Shops, radio and TV talk shows and even movies selected for TV viewing focus on the increasingly important role of women. There are those who report regularly on progress made towards making media more gender sensitive.

It is intriguing that feminist media watchdogs keep such a close eye on newspaper articles and how many or how few are handled from a female and how many from a male perspective. But is there not a flaw in that way of thinking, because most news items, although they might be written and presented by a man, do not specifically present a male perspective?  I believe they present a general human personal perspective.

Many articles and news items are written and presented by women also from a general point of view. The topic and context do matter. When writing on Zimbabwe or xenophobia or food and fuel prices there seldom seems to be a gender bias. However often when there is reference to politics or to African National Congress leadership in particular, there is an underlying gender sensitivity.  Concerns are whether there are enough women in politics, in parliament or local government and to some extent in business.

In South Africa equality is a major focus. But as I have experienced quite consciously recently, social interaction is not necessarily a question of numbers, or of how many men or women are in what positions. The question of what characteristics and qualities people—men or women—bring to the table is important and valuable.

Would women be shouting “kill for Zuma”  as readily as some male politicians have? Some women might take a contrary angle and want to punish Jacob Zuma for perceived sexist behaviour. There are also areas, such as education and health, where women outnumber men even in senior positions.

It is good to consider and value the qualities and roles that men and women bring to a situation or job. It is accepted that women are better at multi-tasking and they are also on the whole more compassionate, more in touch with the emotional and psychological side of things. This is not something to be ignored or to be seen as a weakness. Male characteristics tend to be greater logic, more clear-headedness and decisiveness, quite apart from sheer physical strength. It is also important to recognise that women might also be mothers. Of course, men might be parents, too — but the burdens on women tend to be far greater.

Male and female characteristics and differences are a gift from God and a source of joy as well as of difficulties. They have their place, should be welcomed and enjoyed but need not be exaggerated either.

I relate these reflections to the family life theme for 2008 of “Me and My Family” and the August theme “Me, Woman and Man.” The theme can be considered from different angles, the personal perspective of myself as a woman or man, or alternatively how I relate to women and men in my family and other social settings.

On August 15 we celebrate and honour Mary, a woman of great stature, “A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of 12 stars”.  She had her place, knew her place and still knows her place, in all her apparitions always leading people to Jesus her Son. May she as patroness of South Africa pray for us in all our needs as we navigate the complexities of sexual and gender interaction.