The North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), hosted the fifth research webinar of a seven-part series on 3 September 2020.
With the theme “Gender Dynamic and Support Systems”, the webinar looked into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on society, with specific insights from humanities, social sciences and indigenous knowledge systems.
The webinar panelists included Dr Maude Dikobe, a senior lecturer at the University of Botswana teaching in the area of African diaspora and gender studies, Dr Tendayi Garutsa, an early career researcher, subject chair and senior lecturer in the NWU’s Social Sciences, and Prof Alinah Kelo Segobye, the dean of Human Sciences at NUST.
Dr Dikobe spoke on the subtopic “Gender dimensions of Covid-19 in Botswana: Mmangwana o tshwara thipa ka ha bogaleng”.
In her presentation she argued that an inclusive development agenda must include listening to women’s lived experiences, especially in the post Covid-19 world where issues of gender justice and the health for all is prioritised.
“The pandemic unmasked often-hidden rampant gender-based violence, especially domestic violence. Consequently, women’s voices have come forth, demanding action, and to call leaders to account for especially the heavily militarised responses during the pandemic,” said Dr Dikobe.
She said while the number of Covid-19 infections have remained relatively low in Botswana, several worrying trends have emerged with respect to the pandemic.
“The first was the negative impact of the lockdown on communities. Especially with regard to the loss of jobs and livelihoods. The other has been the pervasive reports of gender-based violence, including other fatalities.”
Dr Garutsa presented on the subtopic “Using an intersectional lens in understanding gender-based violence and Covid-19”.
Her presentation analysed some of the theories towards understanding gender-based violence.
“Gender-based violence cannot be captured by looking at class, age, race as mutually exclusive terrains. It is critical that we challenge the monolithic definition of race, class, sexuality and other identities, which have a profound influence on gender-based violence,” said Dr Garutsa.
“I propose an intersectional framework that analyses interlocking systems of oppression around social categories like race, gender, class, disability and sexual orientation embedded in power, privilege and positionality,” she added.
Prof Segobye spoke on the sub-topic “Where have all the children gone? Memory and forgetting in a post Covid-19 world”.
In her presentation she advocated for the urgent review of policies in education, health, and other critical areas to ensure children are supported in the current and future management of the pandemic.
She said that the human instinct to shield children from negative experiences is probably universal. However, throughout humanity children have been forced to be witness to many – sometimes unspeakable – things.
“Across the continent, children have been forced to war as soldiers or to become brides and servants. Children have faced regimes in the quest for justice and others have become parents long before their childhood should have transitioned. To date, global concerns in respect to the pandemic and discourses of a post Covid-19 world almost completely excluded children save for discussions about their schooling,” she said.
“Support for alternative healing and therapies should be drawn upon in providing psychosocial support for children and their communities during the pandemic.”
