You hit the nail on the head by identifying that the purple motif online can be a form of virtue signaling and the economic withdrawal can negative consequences esp for those in dire situations. The campaign is a well intentioned form of mobilisation for international appeal (both online and for the G20) and national action (expediting the NSP and National Disaster status) yet in its marketing underdeveloped.
There's too much focus on symbolism (purple profiles and black clothes) and not enough on systemic dismantling of patriarchy that enables violence and apathy toward women and the gender minority. Sonke Gender Justice is doing great work on addressing this with young men, but this movement feels bound to be short-lived if it's mostly about solidaritye bcs the severity of the situation requires more than that but people don't seem ready to go beyond that awareness threshold.
I believe very much that allies should put their monies and bodies where their mouth is, and that is on the front lines and in our pockets. So yes men should join our resistance efforts. But their voices are not equal to ours. They are not victims of GBV. Liberation can be supported by allies, but the only people who can liberate anyone is the people themselves. Undermining the work of online activists who use the purple profile as a symbol of the movement has me wondering if you are how in touch you are with the efforts of the women behind these profiles exactly. You seem to, unintentionally of course, prioritise the role of men in SA and G20’s women’s movement against GBV in this essay and that itself undermines the point of everyone organising for this movement. I would ask you to please consider my comment. We have an urgent crisis on our hand even now, nearly a month since you published this article, and yet so much of the essay spoke on the sensitisation of men. Why are we waiting for them to catch up? We have our voice. We can speak. We are speaking. I would think more of our essayists would think on ways to make the world listen, rather than suggest that our voice is not enough.
As someone who cannot fully participate in the shutdown because I'm writing an exam on that day, this is so real😭✊🏾I hope everyone stays safe on the march and I'll definitely be there in spirit.
You hit the nail on the head by identifying that the purple motif online can be a form of virtue signaling and the economic withdrawal can negative consequences esp for those in dire situations. The campaign is a well intentioned form of mobilisation for international appeal (both online and for the G20) and national action (expediting the NSP and National Disaster status) yet in its marketing underdeveloped.
There's too much focus on symbolism (purple profiles and black clothes) and not enough on systemic dismantling of patriarchy that enables violence and apathy toward women and the gender minority. Sonke Gender Justice is doing great work on addressing this with young men, but this movement feels bound to be short-lived if it's mostly about solidaritye bcs the severity of the situation requires more than that but people don't seem ready to go beyond that awareness threshold.
In short no. Infact, it all becomes performance if the confrontation and dismantling of systems that perpetuate violence is not prioritized.
It really is a double edged sword.
Stunning essay!
thank you!
I believe very much that allies should put their monies and bodies where their mouth is, and that is on the front lines and in our pockets. So yes men should join our resistance efforts. But their voices are not equal to ours. They are not victims of GBV. Liberation can be supported by allies, but the only people who can liberate anyone is the people themselves. Undermining the work of online activists who use the purple profile as a symbol of the movement has me wondering if you are how in touch you are with the efforts of the women behind these profiles exactly. You seem to, unintentionally of course, prioritise the role of men in SA and G20’s women’s movement against GBV in this essay and that itself undermines the point of everyone organising for this movement. I would ask you to please consider my comment. We have an urgent crisis on our hand even now, nearly a month since you published this article, and yet so much of the essay spoke on the sensitisation of men. Why are we waiting for them to catch up? We have our voice. We can speak. We are speaking. I would think more of our essayists would think on ways to make the world listen, rather than suggest that our voice is not enough.
As someone who cannot fully participate in the shutdown because I'm writing an exam on that day, this is so real😭✊🏾I hope everyone stays safe on the march and I'll definitely be there in spirit.
Not in palestine. Ahhhh