eBusiness Weekly
Josline Sithole
Our sisters and brothers at Population Services International (PSI) found themselves in a bit of a “pickle” with their 16-days of activism campaign.
The campaign, which entailed that women post pictures of their black eyes (presumably from violent beatings by their partners or husbands) caught the ire of some unhappy internet users who thought it was in bad taste.
On their part, the organisation apologised and withdrew the “offensive” campaign. To some extent the campaign did manage to show us the extent of the injuries that women go through due to domestic violence. Some of these were clearly unsettling.
Domestic violence is rampant across the world and there are many stories that leave us all disgusted and mournful. The extent of the violence and the “gawky” details that come up with it leave us hopeless at where humanity is headed.
According to United Nations Women (UNWomen), globally, 35 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, or sexual violence by a non-partner. This figure does not include sexual harassment.
The report notes that, in some countries, the number can be as high as 70 percent of women, and that rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV are higher in women who have experienced this type of violence compared to women who have not.
However, this article will not be about domestic violence, but what I call “Violence Against Women in the Business fraternity”. In 2021 it will be prudent to run both these. Violence against women in the business sector might not necessarily be physical but might come in the form of emotional pain as well.
First of all, let’s look at the statistics. According to Human Rights Watch, “Millions of female workers are forced to work in an intimidating, hostile or humiliating environment.”
Let me break down my own experiences. In one association I consulted for, the board chairperson called me a “whore” for the simple reason that I am a single mother and I had dared to challenge the financial records.
After requesting him to retract the statement I received various threats and more derogatory words. I have pitched my ideas and ended up sitting in workshops and conferences were those exact concepts were presented without an acknowledgement to myself.
Perhaps the greatest bone of contention has been to do work which was not paid for. I have seen my male colleagues being paid double for the same work. As a single mother sometimes, you are expected to work more hours than your married counterpart because you do not have a husband and thus will have more spare time.
Of course, this has scarred me emotionally and I believe that the country is worse off as I now refuse to volunteer anything for fear of being exploited and violated. Within these 16 days of activism I conducted my own kind of activism albeit overtly and held conversations with different stakeholders and WhatsApp group members on these issues that are very close to my heart.
Activism against sexual
violence at the workplace
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration “OSHA” a US-based department within the Department of Labour, “Workplace violence is defined as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behaviour that occurs at the work-site.”
A UN Women report entitled “Addressing Violence and harassment Against Women in the World of work” notes that, 75 percent of women in the professional capacity or in top management have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace.
In addition, a global poll carried by Care International on their hashtag “This is not working” found that, most men believe that it is acceptable to sexually harass and abuse women at work.
The same survey also revealed that, nearly 25 percent of men surveyed in Australia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, South Africa, USA and the United Kingdom agreed that “It is sometimes or always acceptable for an employer to ask or expect an employee to have sexual relations with female employees.”
Tragically in the UK 36 percent of 24-34-year-olds responded that it is sometimes or always acceptable to pinch a female colleague as a jest.
Activism against organisational misrepresentation
Women still have a long way to reach the glass ceiling in Zimbabwe. Chidziva, writing for the IOSR Journal of Business and Management notes that, “The number of women in boards is woefully low”. The same report, also notes that, only 45 percent of ZSE listed companies had one or more women on their boards.
A whooping 58,3 percent of the companies listed on the ZSE did not have a female board member. In addition, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency though women make up about 52 percent of the population there were only 29 female directors out of the 100 State-Owned Enterprises(SOEs).
This shows a clear lack of representation within the Zimbabwean organisational and business landscape. Equally important is the poor representation of women among boards of SME Associations in Zimbabwe. Most SMEs Associations do not have women chairpersons who are also poorly represented within the boards.
Activism for gender
inclusion among girl children
According to Adiat Disu, a creative entrepreneur and international Communications Professional “By consciously developing young women leaders, we shift and diminish any negative cultural or societal stereotypes of their gender.” Our young women are more vulnerable to sexual abuse within the business fraternity than any age demographic.
We need to actively ensure activism against perception of industries that women should be involved in. Globally women continue to dominate in these four industries, health, education, recruitment and customer care service.
A study that was conducted in the US construction industry, only 9 percent of workers are female, but under 1 percent of them, have a job that occurs on-site.
In Zimbabwe more often women are more active in soft industries such as events, hairdressing. Farming is also a firm favourite with more than 50 percent of women in Zimbabwe being involved in farming activities. However, heavy industries such as the mining industry remain a purview of the male gender.
A Price Waterhouse Coopers Report (PWC) 2013 report entitled: “Mining for talent — A study of women on boards in the mining industry” notes that mining is the worst sector for gender diversity — worse than the oil and gas industry.
The oil and gas industries are equally notorious for closing off women advancement in their industries.
The report goes on to reveal that, “just 5 percent of board seats are held by women in the top 500 mining companies”. Jenkins 2014, also reveal that; “There is an invisibility problem whereby women’s contributions to the mining sector are masked by the dominant reflection of men’s roles in discussions of mining, thus erasing the participation of women.”
In conclusion a lot more still needs to be done to ensure that women are equally represented within the business fraternity.
I leave you to reflect on this quote from Jane Harman; “Many women have been successful in breaking the glass ceiling only to find a layer of men.”
Josline Sithole is a business development consultant. Contact her on 0773634062.
Our sisters and brothers at Population Services International (PSI) found themselves in a bit of a “pickle” with their 16-days of activism campaign.
