Page 22 - The Villager August 2021
P. 22

Lifestyle



                           WomEn in high placEs





                                                         BY ANN ARNOTT


















































            Celebrating the achievements of women in today's world.


                     hen discussing the relevance   However, when it comes to the   to the  British  Commonwealth,  names
                     of our  Public Holiday  on   present day, while still recognising the   such as Margaret Thatcher (British Prime
            W9  August, some kids might       tremendous hardships and sacrifices   Minister from 1979 – 1990) and Indira
            well ask,  “Why do we have a Public   made  by  women  during  the  ‘struggle   Gandhi (Prime Minister of India from
            Holiday to remember a march by women   years’,  we  should  be  celebrating  their   1966 – 1977 and then again from 1980
            to protest about laws that don’t resonate   strength of character and resilience, and   until her assassination in 1984) might
            with us? That march took place sixty-five   use that as a backdrop while we applaud   come to mind. But in fact, there have
            years ago. That was so long ago. The time   the women achievers of our time – not   been many more.
            is now and we are born free.”     only here in SA, but around the world.  Since 1950, more than 80 countries
              Perhaps the best answer is,  “Without                            have either elected or appointed
            acknowledging that march, which   WOMEN IN POLITICS                women in the position of head of
            prompted the proclamation of National   While our women in SA continued to   state or government. In 1960, just
            Women’s Day as a Public Holiday, we’ll   fight the oppression of the prevailing   four years after the 1956 march
            quickly forget the part that women of all   National Party government, elsewhere   to the Union Buildings in Pretoria,
            races and cultures have played in getting   in the world women were already   Sirimavo Bandaranaiki became the first
            us to the point where our kids could be   making their mark as leaders of   democratically-elected female head of
            born free!”                       governments.  With our  former links   state of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).


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