(Parliamentary debate: International Women’s Day)
There exists such a delicate and intricate balance between gender equality and environmental variables that the one is entirely dependent on the other for sensible sustainability.
Gender equality, the climate crisis, economic growth and social sustainability are all intricately intertwined, and gender equality is one of the core issues of the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals for 2022 and links closely with the theme of International Women's Day.
Statistics indicate that 80% of the people affected by climate change and who were displaced by climate-related disasters are women and girls, while 70% of the 1,3 billion people who live in abject poverty are women.
This reality is no different in South Africa nor the rest of the world. It is clear that poverty and food security lie at the heart of women's vulnerability, and there is a strong correlation between starvation and gender inequalities.
The 2019 report by the Marginalized Groups Indicator shows that, on average, 40,6% of female-headed households did not have a single working member in the household. More than 11% of female-headed households suffered a lack of food in 2019, compared to 9,7% of male-headed households.
Sustainable development relies heavily on ending discrimination against women and providing equal access to education and job opportunities.
This is to the mutual benefit of the entire community and there is conclusive evidence that gender equality stimulates economic growth, especially in countries with higher unemployment rates and fewer economic opportunities.
Although South Africa's Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee women equal rights and the country's labour legislation protects women against discrimination, statistics on discrepancies in salaries show that we are still far from achieving actual gender equality.
In 2017, the World Economic Forum (WEF) compiled a report based on gender-related wage differences in 144 countries worldwide. It focused on health, economy, politics and education. One of its findings was that South African men earn approximately R6 600 more than women on a monthly basis.
Statistics South Africa's report on government, public safety and justice exposed alarming social prejudices in this regard as it indicated, among other things, that 64,7% of South Africans believe that if a woman were to earn more than her partner, it would lead to discord in their relationship.
It is a serious cause for concern as it proves that deep-rooted gender stereotyping and unhealthy patriarchal tendencies lie at the root of the problem of inequality.
Gender equality is inextricably intertwined with the global sustainability of humankind. It is time to implement it fully through the true empowerment of women.
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