Promote gender and empower women

 Goal number 3 of the Millennium Development Goals has not been taken into consideration vis-a-vis the empowerment of women in politics.The participation of women in lower house at Parliament in Zimbabwe is still low and the target is to increase to 50 percent by 2015.Women participation in political and economic decision-making  is still lagging. The Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)  has  indicated  that females are still far behind male  empowerment.

Although approximately 52% of the population in Zimbabwe is female; women are disproportionately represented in politics and in other decision-making positions. 

WHAT HINDERS THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN?

• the lack of specific legislative provisions on quotas is a barrier to the increased representation of women in elective positions
• The same challenges still exist but a special emphasis has been put on elimination of multiple marginalization of women belonging to minority groups such as people with disabilities, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, refugees and immigrants. The sparsely populated country and ageing population remain as challenges for the future and possibly have impacts on the status of women, especially related to availability of and access to services, growing economic dependency rate and women’s burden as caretakers in the family. 

 A number of countries are exploring measures that may increase women's participation in government at all levels, from the local to the national level .
 Increasing women's representation in the government can empower women.
.Women's participation has been limited by the assumption that women’s proper sphere is the “private” sphere. 
 The “public” domain is one of political authority and the “private” realm is associated with the family and the home .
 Women have been assigned to this private  sphere by the patriarchal society .
By relegating women to the private sphere, their ability to enter the political arena is curtailed. Many women attain political standing due to kinship ties, as they have male family members who are involved in politics.female politicians face gender stigma from male members of the political parties to which they belong, which can undermine the ability of women to reach or maintain leadership roles.

Hillary Clinton

When the media writes about female politicians ,they have got a tendency of focusing their attention mostly on their appearance and what they are wearing rather looking at what that candidate brings on table that pertains central issues.This shows that the media prefer style rather than substance in women.

Men in politics are seen as people who can balance between taking care of their families at home and at the same time conduct political affairs whilst women are scrutinized and questioned  whether they can conduct public affairs and at the same time be able to do their domestic duties.



There are campaign double standards that are obstacles for women politicians in campaigns.For example ,when we look at how Hillary Clinton has been portrayed in the media. In many political cartoons, Hillary Clinton is a depicted as being too determined, ambitious and mean, which then frames her as being unfeminine..Clinton is almost always presented as hideous, ugly, old and fat with large hips and big thighs. This advert below is meant to denigrate her and make her lose confidence in herself thus showing that the media would do anything to make sure that women in politics are always treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts that are in politics.


Hillary  has also been characterized as “lucky to have been married to a president." This statement gives the implication that she has gotten where she is based upon the success of her husband thus showing that female politicians are depend on men for their success which is not always true.Women that are brave and strong in upholding their principles are seen as threat to the patriachal society and the media would try by all means to suppress them up to a point where they give up .It also shows that the society does not accept or tolerate women who want to oppose the status quo.

Portrayal of Female politicians in the South African media

“It’s fashionable for females to be in leadership; we are beginning to see it as a normal thing here,” said the founding executive director of Gender Links, who also was the founding chief executive officer of the South African Commission on Gender Equality. - See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

“It’s fashionable for females to be in leadership; we are beginning to see it as a normal thing here,” said the founding executive director of Gender Links, who also was the founding chief executive officer of the South African Commission on Gender Equality. - See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

“In South Africa there now is a culture of ‘zero tolerance’ for not having women at the table. Someone will always ask the question, ‘Where are the women?’"
- See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

Women in politics have received the same kind of  criticism and bullying as their International counterparts and this has also been the same in South Africa.

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In South Africa ,there are more than fifty women who are involved in politics of the country and these include Hellen Zille ,Lindiwe Mazibuko and Mamphela Ramphele among others.


 Mamphela Ramphele and Helen Zille have together presided over one of the most embarrassing political fiascos in recent South African history. Mamphela Ramphele has emerged far worse from the spat, being depicted as untrustworthy, selfish, and fickle in the media. Ramphele’s apparent egotism, sexual history, and age have all been deemed relevant to analyses of her political career. The prurient focus on the kiss between the two women at the press conference announcing the launch, drew attention away from a serious (attempted) shift in the South African political landscape.

 On social media she has been repeatedly referred to as a “gogo” (grandmother), and in the wake of the most recent debacle, as a “confused old lady”.

Women are subjected to  bullying in parliament, and being patronised and ignored by male colleagues, to threats of violence and rape.In the  African political discourse, while often brutal and sometimes puerile across the board, does not treat men and women the same way. This is evident in the negative attention paid to the physical appearance of figures like DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko. It is evident in the routine sexualising of female politicians; to take just one example, the comments of erstwhile ANC Youth League leaders Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu in 2009 suggesting that Helen Zille had stocked her Cabinet with “boyfriends and concubines”. It is evident in the fact that the word “girl” is often used to describe female politicians who have very definitely arrived at adulthood .The opposition in South Africa’s National Assembly, commented that much of the criticism of her appearance is “designed to make [her] feel small” – to remind her that women have no right to occupy the public sphere.

 HOWEVER

 Some critics  like McKaiser have argued that the accusation that women who challenge the status quo are “angry” or too “emotional” to debate rationally is another form of silencing and they need to be angry in public.


.According to  Aili Mari Tripp, Africa is a leader in women’s parliamentary representation globally. African countries have some of the world’s highest rates of representation:


The founding  executive director of Gender Links who also was the founding  CEO of the South African Commission on Gender Links,Collen Lowe Morna argues that its fashionable for females to be in leadership and she is finding it a normal thing. When she talks about what is 'fashionable' in South Africa ,her topic is women politicians -not their clothing.  A fact that is there in consideration to female politicians many women occupy exceptionally powerful positions within the political system.This shows that S.Africa has got 'zero tolerance' for not having female politicians at table.It also shows that female politicians in S.Africa are much more influential and participative in the public sphere as compared to female politicians in Zimbabwe.

When Colleen Lowe Morna talks about what’s “fashionable” in South Africa, her topic is women politicians -– not their clothing. - See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

“In South Africa there now is a culture of ‘zero tolerance’ for not having women at the table. Someone will always ask the question, ‘Where are the women?’" - See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

“It’s fashionable for females to be in leadership; we are beginning to see it as a normal thing here,” said the founding executive director of Gender Links, who also was the founding chief executive officer of the South African Commission on Gender Equality. - See more at: http://www.mott.org/news/news/2009/genderlinks.aspx#sthash.WKQp7ERX.dpuf

How Dr Grace Mugabe has been portrayed

'Here is a woman of substance.a woman with a charitable disposition and a woman of tangible and visible influence'

This is how Dr Grace Mugabe has been portrayed in the state media.She has been seen as an intelligent woman who knows what she is doing as she is labelled a Doctor. She has also proved to be a very hardworking woman as she  owns a well run Children's Home in Mazoe.The way she has been portrayed in the state media in good light shows that all that she has achieved is accepted and recognized by the people. Dr Grace Mugabe has also proven to be an independent woman as she is working towards building a school and is also a dairy farmer with over 2500 dairy cows.Her involvement in politics is perfectly okay and welcome in a political environment that has for the last 3 decades dominated by men .This shows that not all women who are involved in politics have been portrayed in bad light but their good side has also been covered.


This is seen as an optimism of grace that inspires women to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams even if it means competing against their male counterparts.Looking at how Grace has been portrayed ,the

media seems to be improving on how it portrays female politicians as they are seen as

• daring
• influential in politics
• workaholics
• hardworking
• can also make decisions of their own without any influence
• women of substance

However.one should also take note that she has not been completely been portrayed as a good woman .her weaknesses have been shown in the media. She has been labelled as 'divisive' and a 'useful tool'. This shows that female politicians are still looked down upon. Her insults against Joice Mujuru ,calling her corrupt has been seen as unacceptable as some have said her behavior has set a  terrible precedent for the engagement of women in politics.Her attacks has been labelled the 'lowest attack that a woman can level against another woman'

This brings out female politicians who

• power hungry and  are willing to take positions of other female politicians 
• not united
• childish.

JOYCE MUJURU

Joyce Mujuru

She is  a role model to the women of Zimbabwe as she has had the courage and confidence to compete with men until she was able to get a seat as a member of the parliament. Joyce Mujuru has become exemplary to the women of Zimbabwe showing them that women also are fit to be in the public sphere and this is possible when they gain confidence in themselves.

She has served the country of Zimbabwe since 2004 up until 2014 when she was sacked for allegedly plotting to kill the president.Despite the fact that she has served the country ,her efforts are now not recognized at all and despite all the allegations that have been made against her,,she still had the guts to stand up and defend herself as an independent individual......

.'A vociferous attempt has been made to portray me as 'a murder', and 'sellout' yet no iota of evidence has been produced to give credence to the allegations'

Female politicians have been treated and are still treated like second class citizens.They have been labelled with all sorts of names and in the case of Joyce Mujuru she has been called a 'treacherous cabal ', she who was once seen as heir apparent.Despite the bad that she has done ,for example she has been alleged to be a corrupt individual ,her role in uplifting women should also be recognized . She has advocated for women 's emancipation as she has advised women not to see themselves as second priority because they are equal to men.

Key Points to Note on how female are politicians

• second class citizens
• back stabbers
• sellouts
• not fit to be leaders
• should be ruled by men
• do not have a place in the public sphere
• they are too weak to stand up for themselves

LINKS

Mujuru

How women have been portrayed in politics and what can be done

HOW WOMEN IN POLITICS HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED

 In persuing this topic,one should ask these question below

• Are women not equal to men?
• Why are women in politis under -represented?
•  Are they not worthy to be in the public sphere?
• Why are they not involved in decision making?
• Are women not aware of their rights?

It is widely seen that women who are involved in politics have not been given the same opportunity as men to prove themselves .They are considered as less competent and still lagging behind in terms of education.One may wander why this is so .Why are there more men in the cabinet when we now examining Zimbabwe's case? One can observe that there are less than 5 women who are members of the parliament .Women are seen as people who do nor deserve to be in politics as they are also not included in decision making.They are 4 ways inn which female politicians have been labelled in the media and these are sex objects,mother,pet and iron maiden .
 CAN THIS BE CHANGED?

Yes of cause this can all be changed if women unite because they can never be change if they are divided .They have to fight for the same cause.Moreover women should have confidence that they are equal to men and deserve the same opportunities and should not be afraid to challenge them .Women should also know all their rights because most of them seem not to be aware of them. In order to be recognized in the public sphere ,women should also progress academically because in most cases it seems men are the more educated than women.The important thing is that they should become active and engaging citizens just accept the status quo .It is their right to challenge the status quo if they feel it oppresses and undermines their abilities.

Quote of the day - ''The greatest glory in life lies not in never falling but in rising each time we fall''-Nelson Mandela

We as women have fallen but we are not going to remain like that forever .It is time we rise because the sky is not the limit .The only limit that is there is the one we set for ourselves.


stereotype