Page 31 - Fourways Gardens August 2021

Lifestyle

Women in high PlaCes

B y a nn a rno tt

iStock: MangoStar_Studio

Celebrating the achievements of women in today's world. Party government, elsewhere in the world
women were already making their mark as
leaders of governments. With our former
hen discussing the relevance to the point where our kids could be born links to the British Commonwealth, names
of our Public Holiday on free!” such as Margaret Thatcher (British Prime
9 August, some kids might Minister from 1979 – 1990) and Indira
Wwell ask, “Why do we have However, when it comes to the present Gandhi (Prime Minister of India from 1966
a Public Holiday to remember a march by day, while still recognising the tremendous – 1977 and then again from 1980 until her
women to protest about laws that don’t hardships and sacrifices made by women assassination in 1984) might come to mind.
resonate with us? That march took place during the ‘struggle years’, we should be But in fact, there have been many more.
sixty-five years ago. That was so long ago. celebrating their strength of character and
The time is now and we are born free.” resilience, and use that as a backdrop while Since 1950, more than 80 countries have
we applaud the women achievers of our either elected or appointed women in the
Perhaps the best answer is, “Without time – not only here in SA, but around the position of head of state or government.
acknowledging that march, which world. In 1960, just four years after the 1956
prompted the proclamation of National march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria,
Women’s Day as a Public Holiday, we’ll WOmEn in POliTiCS Sirimavo Bandaranaiki became the first
quickly forget the part that women of all While our women in SA continued to fight democratically-elected female head of state
races and cultures have played in getting us the oppression of the prevailing National of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

Fourways Gardens • 29 • August 2021