EDITORIAL: Don't forget the boy child
23 November 2021 | Opinion
A lot of work is being done to transform Namibia from a patriarchal society into an equal one, but if the right balance is not deliberately struck, society could morph into another imbalance – a matriarchy.
In this web of the ‘girl power’ agenda, the boy child is often subconsciously elbowed to the periphery of attention, making him a victim of silent abuse and exclusion.
There is every justification for the current skewed attention in favour of the girl child in a male-dominated society, but the boy child too is walking on knife edge.
President Hage Geingob drew the world’s attention to this challenge over the weekend in his Unicef World Children’s Day address in Kasane, Botswana.
For equality to be achieved, gendered work must aim to ensure an equilibrium is struck on the plight of both men and women – otherwise we are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
It’s no victory if challenges facing women are significantly addressed while those facing men escalate to monumental proportions.
We agree with every bit of work done for women and the girl child so far. In fact, we must triple what has so far been achieved. But while doing so, we must ensure men too are empowered, included and protected.
In this web of the ‘girl power’ agenda, the boy child is often subconsciously elbowed to the periphery of attention, making him a victim of silent abuse and exclusion.
There is every justification for the current skewed attention in favour of the girl child in a male-dominated society, but the boy child too is walking on knife edge.
President Hage Geingob drew the world’s attention to this challenge over the weekend in his Unicef World Children’s Day address in Kasane, Botswana.
For equality to be achieved, gendered work must aim to ensure an equilibrium is struck on the plight of both men and women – otherwise we are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
It’s no victory if challenges facing women are significantly addressed while those facing men escalate to monumental proportions.
We agree with every bit of work done for women and the girl child so far. In fact, we must triple what has so far been achieved. But while doing so, we must ensure men too are empowered, included and protected.
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