50/50 campaign politically incorrect?

Name of the article: 50% representation politically incorrect

Name of publication: News Day

Name of writer: Female Chauvinist

Date: 21 September 2011

Country: Zimbabwe

Theme: Gender equality, legislation, business, politics

Skills: Perspective

Genre: Opinion

Gem classification: Gender Blind

Description
The 50/50 campaign in decision making by 2015 articulated in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development has brought mixed feelings, views and opinions regarding women’s empowerment. For some quarters the campaign has brought with it the renewed hope that could improve women’s empowerment, but others feel that it is “politically incorrect” to go the route of empowerment through legislation. They feel that deliberate policies to attain a certain target reinforce the superiority of men over women. This case study discusses a letter to the Editor by a “female chauvinist” who is of the view that the 50/50 campaign makes women “second class citizens yet they are intelligent enough to make it on their own.

Headline
“50% representation politically incorrect” is the headline of the article. Though the article is an opinion, the headline does not reflect the content of the story fairly. The headline and the article seem to be faulting two things, the representation, and the campaign. While the body of the article argues that, the campaign to advocate for 50% of women in decision-making positions is improper, the headline states that the representations itself is incorrect. However, the writer through the body content argues that that campaign “is politically incorrect” and not the representation. “50/50 campaign politically incorrect” could have probably made a good headline that could mirror its content according to the author.

Sources
The article is written in the first person and the writer’s views are prominent throughout the piece. From the onset, she foregrounds the view that women can succeed in all professions without a piece of legislation. In making her argument, she cites examples of women who have excelled in various fields such as politics, banking, education, and tourism.

Language
The writer is emotional but does not use sexist language. She writes: “I hate to meet someone who sees my achievement as affirmative action as opposed to merit and ability”. In addition, the headline of the article could mislead/misinform the reader. The body of the article argues that the campaign is not proper while the headline says, “50% representation [is] politically wrong.” The writer seems to be confusing herself because her overall argument is attacking the “push” or piece of legislation that wants to empower women and not the representation itself. She admits that she is “hurt and annoyed”.

Further, the writer uses a Zimbabwean proverb, “Usafunge kunge mukadzi” (Do not think like a woman). This testifies how the society perceives men as good thinkers compared to women hence a need for deliberate mechanisms like 50/50 campaign.

Visual Images

The story uses the picture of Grace Muradzikwa, a leading Simbabwean woman in the insurance industry. Though the picture could be relevant to the story, it fails to accomplish its purpose because it is not properly captioned. The caption simply gives the name without additional information. In other words the picture is “bleeding.”

Story angle
The article predominantly illustrates the voice of the writer. The author explicitly conveys that it is unjust to campaign for the 50/50 representation in all decision-making positions. She notes that ” the campaign for 50% representation of women in decision-making levels makes us second class citizens who cannot rise to dizzy heights without a push from men or a piece of legislation.” She adds that “reserving seats in boardrooms and in parliament is a mockery of our ability to achieve things on our own capacity. “However, the author is making her argument without substantiated statistics, data, or sources to validate it.

Research has shown that there are very few women in decision-making positions in the region. According to 2011 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer on Zimbabwean, only 19% of women are in Local Government authorities, 18% in parliament, and only 16% hold ministerial position. Similarly, Zambia offers another contemporary example of the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions. Recently, elected president, Michael Chilufya Sata appointed only two women in his 19-member cabinet. These examples demonstrate how the society treats women in as far as leadership is concerned. This calls for deliberate policies, like 50/50 campaign rather than leaving things to chance.
The writer insinuates that the dignity and respect of women (even those that will have excelled through merit) will be lost should the 50% representation campaign be enforced. She writes, “see how many of us are filling the planes to Dubai, China or South Africa. Women business people have invaded the CBD.” Apart from not using substantiated arguments, the writer does not stick to the statement she is contesting, 50% representation of women in decision-making.

The author misunderstood the 50/50 campaign. The campaign acknowledges that people’s misconceptions and attitudes that look at men as leaders discriminates women who aspire to become leaders. The campaign aims at attaining gender parity in decision-making.
The author fails to acknowledge the existence of glass ceilings in most aspects of public and private lives life a thing that hinders capable women to rise to the level of their abilities. In addition, the author seems not to appreciate the fact that many men continue to control most factors of production a thing that gives them financial muscle hence occupying decision-making and or leadership roles unlike women.

In addition to the above, the author uses sociologist CP Gilman to put across her argument in a wrong context. Gilman argues, “there is no female mind. The Brain is not an organ of sex…” By quoting this Gilman, the writer suggests that gender equality activist advocating for this campaign perceives woman as having “female brains” which is all wrong. To cap it all, the writer fails to acknowledge that women have been disadvantaged by the patriarchal system which confined them to private spaces.

Training exercises
– What is your understanding of 50/50 campaign?
– If you were given an opportunity to write and advocate for the 50/50 campaign what arguments would you use to defend why your country should adopt it.
– What is the importance of using secondary sources of information and statistics when writing an opinion piece or analysis?

Other training resources
– Zimbabwe Glass ceiling research report
– Roadmap to Equality: DVD on the Southern Africa Protocol on Gender and Development
– SADC Protocol on Gender and Development
– SADC Barometer 2011
– 50/50 policy brief

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