South African-born Chinese women have been working towards the empowerment of women after generations of discrimination, sexism and stereotyping.
Gauteng, South Africa (25 August 2020) – The month of August celebrates women across all races and cultures in South Africa.
The lack of proper recognition for the crucial role of women is a global reality is an issue that is still being fought until this day.
This issue is no different in the Chinese community. The South African-born Chinese women are pushing barriers to be recognised as important members of the Chinese as well as the South African community at large. Chinese women can no longer be ignored.
Black South African women and South African-born Chinese women have been fighting the same battle of equality, sexism, discrimination and stereotyping. Historically they were seen as homemakers who assisted their husbands in their shops and who fended for their families. They were discouraged from getting a tertiary education and were not viewed as people who could make a meaningful contribution to the Chinese community. This only changed in the 1970s.
In contrast, the male children were always encouraged to become educated, to carry the family name high, while the girls were just sidelined and forgotten about. For many generations, the Chinese culture looked down on women, to the point where the tombstones only had their son’s names engraved purely because the male gender was deemed superior.
The Chinese Association (Gauteng) has played a crucial role in supporting Chinese women. They have created the Women’s Federation to help advocate the importance of women and highlight their role within the community. They have created a platform that enables Chinese Women the freedom of expression and proactively accentuate strong and bold characteristics.
The Women’s Federation has taught Chinese women to look beyond their limitations. It gives them an opportunity to motivate each other, and to have a chance to create lifetime bonds with other women who are in the same position. The Women’s Federation has played a vital role in the progress of Chinese women by creating a safe space for women to achieve greatness.
The Federation is led by a team of proactive women who were once discriminated against but who managed to break free from the limitations. These women include teachers, lawyers and businesswomen who contribute to the development of the Chinese community and South Africa.
The Women’s Federation supports charity initiatives that matter in the country such as CANSA, RAGE (Rhino Action Group Efforts), Meals on Wheels, collection of sanitary towels and food parcels for numerous underprivileged communities.
The Women’s Federation hosts social and educational events to help develop skills and bring meaning to the lives of Chinese women. In the spirit of celebrating women and the many important roles they play in our lives, this is essentially what Woman’s Month entails amongst many other factors.
The Women’s Federation has managed to create a channel for women to lead and to be great, as well as to showcase the importance of what they are doing.
The Chinese Associations Women’s Federation strives to be an example of what women should be: standing united, creating a social force, empowering others and making South Africa a better place for our future generations.
“The women in our community are eager to meet and interact with other communities. Through more engagement, we hope to share skills, experiences and ultimately learn more about each other’s cultures and traditions. It is only through a better understanding of each other, that we learn to be more tolerant and appreciative- with the ultimate objective of creating a better and more united South Africa for all.”