The answer is in the Bible

Michael Conteh, co-ordinator: gender training and research programme for the Social Sciences division at UNAM, writes:
 
TO say that we live in interesting times is a time-honoured cliché! Though many of us men, (both traditionalists and modernists) profess to be open-minded, as a matter of fact, we also claim to be gender sensitive. It has become fashionable to speak of gender equality, gender awareness, gender sensitive, etc. Nowadays, even the parrot speaks about gender and gender equality.

We hear it in churches, the speeches of politicians, NGOs, school principals, the CEOs both in parastatals and private sector and even in the shebeens. Yes, indeed we are aware. We are aware of gender based violence and discrimination against women and we acknowledge prevalent gender inequities, harmful cultural practices fuelling such violence on an alarming scale.

Moreover, gender for most people is synonymous with women’s issues which is a complete misconception of what gender as a concept and gender equality entails. It is no surprise that some women have internalized this fallacy and make gender issues their sphere of influence to the extent that they are uncomfortable to see men involved in issues of gender! In their parochial view of gender equality, it is time for women to be at the helm of every aspect of human activity.

Simply put, in their view, it is acceptable to institutionalize reverse discrimination! Here the key word is gender and the issue is violent behaviour by men against women in Namibia, (as national GBV statistics reveals), whether it is out of everyday normality or whether it is some of our ingrained biasness or maybe that it is the insecurities some men feel when faced by a woman who is better than them. I need not remind us of the inconceivable crimes against women that have engulfed this nation over the past years.

Given the fact that there are different forms of GBV namely, physical, emotional, verbal, psychological and economical, would it be safe to assume that the physical manifestation of GBV by men on women is a direct result of the verbal, emotional and economic abuse men suffers in the hands of women? Is simple “realization” of facts, which we may refer to as awareness, the solution?

Or does mere realization add to the complexities of gender issues? Or can both possibilities occur simultaneously? Indeed it never takes much to realize or be aware of GBV but it does take an effort, worth taking that is, to act against it. The one who violates must have a pretty good idea that he/she is the one on the wrong side of things.

If so, then let’s put it straight and point blank that mere awareness may not work against gender- based violence, as it is true that awareness can only be considered a step in the right direction. Whether right or wrong, depends on our own intentions as to how to follow towards the course, once being aware. Today, society may still be dominated by men, but it has always been sustained by women.

On all accounts sustainability is more important than domination! Men in Namibia who fail to respect womens’ rights, not only need to be made aware but they need to acknowledge and believe in the freedom of choice for women. Although government has been proactive and should be commended for enacting laws to protect every citizen against violence, it is now crystal clear that laws alone cannot and have not protected the most vulnerable of our society, women and child.

What we need which might even render laws redundant, is reviving our spirituality grounded on God’s love for us, even though we are not worthy of it, and which was manifested by Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for our salvation. That may only come through the churches’ engagement with the hearts and minds of their flock and preaching the gospel of truth aggressively without fear or favour.

The churches’ engagement must be with the same vigour that we had prior to independence when they used to be in the forefront of advocating justice for the oppressed. Women are neither from Venus nor men from Mars. They are just two individual sexes with an inherent range of choices. Let us accept that both may just be different from each other in many a way and unique in their own capacities but still worth of the same respect.

There is nothing out of this world in this simple fact as every individual is born as such. So respecting this law of nature is only sensible and above all, it is the right thing to do! The objective of this article is to solicit comments from every concerned citizen of Namibia and to stimulate debate on the issue of gender based violence that will form part of the national plan of action on gender based violence currently being developed by UNAM for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.

You too can help change the deplorable condition of violence which is affecting all of us as a nation. If you have any input, comments or suggestions, please forward those to: e-mail: mconteh@ unam.na; fax: 061 206 3050; sms or call: 081 203 3929 The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of UNAM, but that of the author! Let’s all unite to stop gender based violence! Report it to stop it.

(Letter abridged. Ed, Republikein)