Students have their say about women empowerment
The month of May is dedicated to women empowerment, and in light of recent events in Afghanistan and Russia, emphasis has been placed on women who have shown great character and resilience in these crises.
A good example of this resilience is when Gulafroz Ebtekar refused to leave her office in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Ministry of Interiors on 15 August 2021 when the Taliban forced everyone to leave after invading Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
Young women have the opportunity to make powerful changes within their own communities.
Nika Grobler (21), a third-year B.Ed student and academic officer on the student campus council (SSC) at the NWU is the youngest SCC member to date. She said that the key to women empowerment is to walk with confidence. “Women have an amazing ability to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Grobler said that the key to working in a male-dominated environment, is to focus on your own abilities rather than focusing on proving yourself to others. “Walk into that [or any] office with gracious confidence and know that the team won’t be the same without your voice and opinion.”
Eliska Wentzel (23), a marketing honours student and arts and culture officer on the SCC, praised the NWU for creating equal opportunities for male and female students. She encouraged young female students to seize each opportunity given to them, and not to allow fear and uncertainty to stand in the way of reaching any dream or goal.
With regards to the ratio of six women to eight men that are currently serving on the SCC, Wentzel said, “I would not say that it is difficult, but rather an opportunity. We are six strong women who do not hesitate to raise our opinions if we do not agree with others.”
Wentzel described an empowered woman through the words of Jessica Dowches-Wheeler, a life and confidence coach in the United States. “She knows that living her purpose will bring meaning and fulfillment to her own life, while improving the lives of those around her.”
Wentzel continued that an empowered woman is not afraid to take risks and knows that it is necessary for personal and professional fulfillment, while using empathy to identify with the experiences of those around her.
Anneri du Preez (22), an LLB student at the NWU and Primaria of Heide women’s residence, sees an empowered woman as someone who knows her worth with the ability to create a platform that allows them to reach their goals. Having to work with leaders from both men’s and women’s residences on the NWU, Du Preez agreed that confidence is important and said that a “woman with confidence is a force of nature.”
She describes a woman’s best qualities as having a gentle nature and being able to handle a difficult situation with grace. “I see women as supporters, having to make sure everyone is feeling and acting their best,” Du Preez said.
Du Preez said that women can help one other by having encouraging conversations on empowerment.
Wentzel agreed and added that women in power should reach out and influence others in communities while acting as mentors and holding each other accountable.
“To be an inspiring woman not only means to be seen in the public eye, but rather to be fulfilled in creating change in other people’s lives,” Wentzel said. She said that an empowered woman makes decisions according to her own intuition and core values without being influenced by others.