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State of The Nation Address: 2010

Submitted by lebog on Thu, 11/02/2010 - 16:00

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Polygamy that exists in a context of inequality is .....

Submitted by lebog on Thu, 11/02/2010 - 16:08.

Polygamy that exists in a context of inequality is not an expression of 'choice'. Where women are poorer, subject to violence and harassment daily, are 60% of HIV positive people, and are killed by their intimate partners at a rate that is unmatched in the world - choice is a relative term. People who use ‘choice’ to defend polygamy also forget that it exists in systems of patriarchy in which the value of women’s lives are rated by their ability to reproduce children  and service the needs and wants of men – even if she does it in a designer evening gown.

 We as women's rights advocates feel terribly disappointed and betrayed by our president's actions and his comments. It was a degrading moment to watch men laughing at his statement at the Davos World Economic Forum – “I love all my wives equally”. The audience – predominantly men, mostly white, laughed as Zuma did on stage, not unlike men sharing a beer and leering at the big-breasted bar maid.
 
Zuma defends his actions as 'cultural'. He used the same defence for his homophobic statements, the same defence for having unprotected sex with a woman half his age who was HIV positive. And the same defence for supporting virginity testing as a valid response to HIV. Culture, we suppose, is something that is separate from context – culture is set in stone, constant and we are simply subject to it... even if it increases risk, perpetuates inequalities and oppressed women and girls? Even if, as in Zuma’s case, he acted outside of cultural norms relating to fidelity. Zuma alleges in his public apology that his behaviour does not contradict government policy on HIV – I wonder what part of government’s central messaging on HIV/AIDS - ”Abstain Be Faithful, Condomise” he remained true to?
 
To address HIV in South Africa, to end violence and inequality we need leaders whose commitment to these ideals is seen and not just heard. We also need leaders to demonstrate their commitment to gender identity in real terms, not just in a speeches. The measure of a true leader is one who acts for the people, and not for his own self gratification.