Zimpapers Logo

Roselyne Sachiti Features, Health and Society Editor
From the first point of socialisation after birth, men are taught to believe in their masculinity, in physical superiority over women and indeed to look down upon women in terms of general mental and physical strength and therein lies our first problem.

“Behave like a man, don’t be weak like a woman…” “Men don’t cry…” “Don’t gossip like a woman…” are common statements in day to day life and it is indeed this kind of mentality that has not helped in nipping in the bud, gender based violence.

Almost every man, including hypochondriacs believe they are more physically fit than any woman. The mindset is telling.
Of course, there are also some extremely violent women, albeit being few, but they are mainly forced by circumstances. Not that I want to defend them.

On Monday Zimbabwe will join the world to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Running under the theme “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!”, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.