Men’s Voice said culture seeks to protect women and children
The organisation wants to end the myth that culture perpetrates GBV.
eMBALENHLE – The Men’s Voice organisation said culture seeks to protect women and children from being abused.
According to the organisation, culture dictates that the man is the head of the house or family, and as the head of the house, he has to protect and provide for his family.
“If culture is practised correctly, we can live in harmony, and if there are oppressive elements emanating from culture, we need to deal with it accordingly.
“We want to address the myth that says culture perpetrates gender-based violence (GBV). We understand that culture seeks to promote respect among people,” said Zakhele Masilela, organisation treasurer.
“A man who understands and practices culture will understand this. Culture requires man to lead and provide direction for his family, especially for his children.”
Masilela said parents should stop the tendency to claim that their wrongful acts are part of their culture.
He said children must be treated equally, regardless of their gender, and that culturally, there is nothing that says a boy should be groomed by his father or a girl to be groomed by her mother.
“If parents do that, what do they expect from their children? Parents should know that both of them are responsible for their children’s growth.
“People should stop doing something un-cultural and claim it to be a culture,” said Masilela.
Men’s Voice also calls on the community to prevent GBV by educating themselves on its root cause and developing an action plan to fight it instead of blaming the victims.
