By Tswelopele Makoe

World-renowned poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said: “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

This has not only been my sentiment of the week, but the sentiment of our national Women’s Month, I believe.

This past week, on August 14 and 17, Momentum hosted its 6th Annual #SheOwnsHerSuccess Workshop Series.

This year, the theme of the campaign was “My Success by Design”. The empowerment workshop was aimed at encouraging and enabling women to use their voices, share their success stories and empower other women across society.

Storytelling does not only speak to autonomously owning one’s own narrative but also to the genuine representation of successful women. Initiatives such as these are a propellant for success among women in our society and speak to the criticality of discourses that inspire and empower women.

Furthermore, the workshop was aimed at equipping women with the necessary tools and strategies needed to advance their professional and personal growth.

In South Africa, more than half of the entire population comprises women. Additionally, Statistics SA reported that 43% of South African households are female-led. Despite this, women earn significantly less than their male counterparts in the same occupation.

In the second quarter of 2024, a third of the entire population remained unemployed, with job security and employment opportunities withering over time.

Bringing focus to women’s leadership, networking, self-advocacy, skills development and inspiration from successful mentors ultimately assists women in fostering an environment of support and meaningful collaboration.

For women, especially women of colour, the path to success is ridden with unseen challenges and systemic biases that can impede their progress.

Momentum's #SheOwnsHerSuccess campaign uses various data sources to spark meaningful dialogue, while sharing insights into the diverse success stories of women across the nation.

Woman empowerment events are crucial to society for several reasons.

First, they provide a platform for women to gain valuable skills, knowledge and confidence needed to advance in our modern society. They also allow women to share their insights of overcoming various barriers and prejudices in the workplace.

The events also act as critical networking opportunities, allowing women to connect with peers, mentors and industry leaders who can offer guidance and support.

They are momentous in raising awareness about systemic biases and gender inequality, while fostering a collective movement towards a more equitable society.

For women in society, collaboration, community and solidarity are of the utmost importance. They can inspire and motivate women to pursue their aspirations, occupy leadership positions and drive entrepreneurship.

The unification and collaboration of women in our society is paramount to amplifying women’s rights and driving meaningful change.

Sadly, some women tend to undermine the power of collaborative efforts.

However, unity among women strengthens their ability to address shared challenges, advocate for gender equality and bolster systemic reforms that are crucial to enacting women’s rights.

When women come together, they are able to leverage their combined experiences and resources to tackle issues such as discrimination, pay disparity and rampant violence more effectively.

This also allows further opportunities for collaborative initiatives that advance women’s rights and expand their professional opportunities.

The collective strength empowers women and enhances their impact on legislation, policies, societal norms, cultural norms, institutional structures and so much more that leads to sustainable and equitable progress in justice, education and the broader society.

Storytelling and personal narratives are powerful tool for women’s empowerment, as they provide an avenue for sharing challenges, successes and experiences in a way that resonates with other women.

Through storytelling, women can highlight their achievements, common struggles, hopes and dreams, while offering relatable and inspiring narratives that challenge stereotypes and break down barriers. Storytelling is vital to validate one’s experiences and foster empathy and community among women facing similar challenges.

Storytelling can amplify diverse, often marginalised, voices, articulating stories that can influence perceptions, inspire action and drive social change.

This also brings attention to issues that often remain undermined and overlooked. It is pertinent that the women of today foster a platform that caters to their needs and promotes vital dialogue, advocacy, inclusion and advancement for women.

Storytelling as a tool of empowerment and advancement is not a foreign concept in Africa.

Before colonialism, storytelling was the primary form of imparting knowledge in Africa. Women have played a crucial role in African history and societies, contributing significantly to the continent’s cultural, social and economic development.

Historically, African women have been leaders, activists, warriors, traders, scholars and so much more, shaping their communities in meaningful, diverse and impactful ways.

In many African societies, women have held prominent authoritative positions as queens, chieftains, spiritual leaders and more. Their roles in agricultural production, local economies, social cohesion and overall development have been fundamental to sustaining and advancing their societies.

Women in Africa are renowned for their wisdom and authority and are often positioned as moral leaders in their communities. Furthermore, women have been at the forefront of social and political movements throughout history, advocating for rights, equity and justice.

Women’s activism has been known to drive significant change, challenging oppression and injustice and fighting for independence and promoting female empowerment.

Even during apartheid, the women’s movement was a crucial part of ANC history, bolstering support in all corners of the country and unifying the nation in a way that had never been seen before.

Understanding and acknowledging the vital contributions of African women highlights their resilience and leadership, offering a more comprehensive and accurate view of African history and societal development.

The attempt to silence, marginalise and undermine women in our society derived from patriarchal ignorance and fear of the inherent power of women.

As brilliantly said by Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe: “I know for sure that African women are endlessly resilient. After what we have overcome in the past, nothing can stop us creating the future we and our country deserve. Just watch us.”

African women, who are most often marginalised from mainstream media and whose needs are largely undermined in modern society, are pertinent to driving a free, successful democratic society. The subjugation of women serves as a barrier to advancement in our society.

Women have proved to break the glass ceiling, no matter the challenges and barriers. We see this in film and television, academia, religious and educational institutions and so many more areas of our modern society.

Digital and social media has been critical to the normalisation of women’s activism in society. Social media is a direct reflection and representation of real life, of modern society.

As such, it has provided a powerful platform for raising awareness, amplifying voices, mobilising support, spreading awareness and education and, ultimately, driving meaningful social and political change in our society.

This Women’s Month, it is the responsibility of all women to advocate for women’s rights, drive equity, promote inclusion, foster solidarity and collaboration, educate society on systemic inequalities and bring visibility to vital issues that might otherwise be silenced or overlooked.

It is pertinent to drive women’s issues into the forefront of society. This means promoting more access to educational and technological resources, advocating for diverse and inclusive beauty standards and bolstering positivity, empowering transformation in society.

Ultimately, women’s issues are everyday issues. Storytelling and women’s empowerment initiatives should not be undermined as they are a key transformative tool for women’s development and success. They offer a powerful space in which to share experiences, inspire change and foster connections.

By giving voice to individual narratives, storytelling validates personal journeys and highlights collective challenges and triumphs.

The process of advancing women’s rights and equality is one that ripples into the rest of our society, influencing societal attitudes, demolishing stereotypes and driving meaningful progress.

“Gynocentrism” refers to the emphasis on female perspectives and experiences. Embracing and amplifying women’s voices is essential to building a more inclusive, cohesive, productive and equitable society. It is in the onus of women themselves to empower one another, be drivers of change and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future.

As Oprah Winfrey once said: “Women of South Africa are some of the most powerful people on Earth. Change what you believe is possible for yourself.”

* Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist and the editor at Global South Media Network. She is a researcher and columnist, published weekly in the Sunday Independent, Independent Online, Global South Media Network, Sunday Tribune and Eswatini Daily News. She is also an Andrew W Mellon scholar, pursuing an MA Ethics at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own.

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It’s up to women to drive the change they want to see