Successes and failures on women front
JOBURG – There is still a lot to be done in the upliftment of women in this country, despite some successes.
The South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) says the status of women in South Africa is a mixed bag of success and failure.
To mark Women’s Day and the subsequent month, the IRR released its August Fast Facts entitled, ‘Wathint’ Abafazi, wathint’ Imbokodo’, (You touch a woman, you touch a rock) (translate please, and why are some of the words in ‘ ‘) a dossier that reveals considerable successes, but also failures in certain areas.
At a household level, the provinces with the highest proportion of female-headed houses are the Eastern Cape with 51.2 per cent, Limpopo with 49.4 per cent and KwaZulu-Natal with 47.4 per cent.
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In terms of household tenure, across all race groups, more females than males now live in households that they own and have fully paid off. In particular, 65.4 per cent of black females have households which they own and fully paid off, compared to 46.9 per cent of black men.
The life expectancy of SA’s female population fares poorly against other countries. The proportion of female children born in 2015 who are expected to survive to the age of 65 and older in SA is 48.4 per cent compared to 65 per cent in Botswana, 50.4 per cent in Mozambique and 60.2 per cent in Uganda.
South Africa fares even worse compared to its Brics counterparts – the proportion in Brazil is 84.8 per cent, China 87.2 per cent and India 74.3 per cent.
In education, the picture, however, looks better for SA women. Females account for 51.3 per cent of the population aged 20 and older, who have completed Grade 12, and 52.9 per cent of the population aged 20 and older who have completed post-school education.
Yet, female involvement in the labour market is low, notes the IRR. The female labour market participation rate is 51.7 per cent whereas the male labour market participation rate stands at 69.5 per cent. Also, employment in management remains skewed in favour of men, with only 21.4 per cent of females holding positions in top management, for instance.
Electorally, it would seem women have a voice in SA’s politics. Some 54.9 per cent of registered voters is female. Although the country has never had a female president, it has one of the highest representation rates of women within parliament.
About 41.7 per cent of MPs are women compared to 15.8 per cent in Botswana, 17.4 per cent in Ghana and 12 per cent in Nigeria. But it is not only relative to African counterparts where SA fares well – in Australia the proportion of female MPs stands at 24.1 per cent, Germany 33,3 per cent and the United Kingdom at 30.8 per cent.
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As victims of crime, adult SA females account for 54 per cent and children 39 per cent have been victims of sexual offences. Adult males are disproportionately victims of murder at 82 per cent and serious assault at 65 per cent. From 1995 to the present, under 3 per cent of the prison population has been female.
IRR research analyst, Unathi Matwasa, concluded, “While progress can be seen, there is a need for a further upturn in the socio-economic status of women in South Africa. Accordingly, policy focus should be aimed at a more inclusive economy, including the safety and security aspect of women.”
Details: Kelebogile Leepile 011 482 7221; kelebogile@irr.org.za
