South Africa_Consumers Win with New credit Act_28/...
South Africa_Consumers Win with New credit Act_28/05/2006
Date: January 1, 1970
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A South African National Credit Act will become effective on June 1 2007. The Act will protect low income-consumers from irresponsible lending by reckless creditors. The Act allows consumers to benefit from net proceeds of re-posed and re-sold possessions.
This article may be used to:
1. To illustrate accuracy and use of gender neutral language in an article.
2. Point out a well balanced story with different dimensions on the same subject.
1. To illustrate accuracy and use of gender neutral language in an article.
2. Point out a well balanced story with different dimensions on the same subject.
3. Demonstrate gender balance in economic reporting.
4. Inform about protective legal instruments
4. Inform about protective legal instruments
Trainer’s notes
This article won the Gender Links 2006 Gender and Media Award in the category of Best Practices in Economic Reporting.
The article has maintained gender neutral language in informing the consumers of the new Act. The article presents a balanced view as it analysis various dimensions of the Act by interviewing an executive from the First National Bank of South Africa in the retail credit division (a man), the Nedbank director for retail shared services (a woman), manager for Market Conduct: Banking Council (a woman), chairperson for South Africa National Consumer Union (woman) and chairperson of National Consumer Forum (a man).
The writer has consistently referred to consumers as low income – earners of which many are women. By focusing on the benefits for the poor, the writer has shown sensitivity and how once passed, this Act will positively impact on the low-income earners.
Discussion Questions
1. Describe elements and factors that make this story a balanced story.
2. What information should have been added to this story?
3. What other kinds of data could have been used in the story?
4. What is your opinion in the use of neutral language?
5. How is credit beneficial empowering to low income- earners, in particular women?
Training Exercises
1. Scan and clip articles from newspapers and financial magazines. Compare articles with this one. Do they illustrate the same gender balance.
2. Have partcipants write an article about an aspect of finance/ economic reporting.
Links to other training resources
GL’s training manual, Business Unusual, Gender and the Economy, provides many exercises on challenging gender stereotypes in the business world. Ask participants to have a look at some of the materials produced during the training on https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=310, and to find examples of “gender benders.” In what ways do these change the lives of both women and men?
Related GL Commentaries
Download : Genderlinks Page 02
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