Top of mind for female students
- Wits University
Students speak of the need for better information on reproductive health and the importance of confronting subtle sexism among staff and students.
As part of marking Women’s Month, commemorated annually in South Africa in honour of the 1956 women’s march for equality and liberation, Wits Communications had a chat with female students to find out what’s on their minds this month and whether it holds any significance for them.
Almost all students approached first cited assignments and stress as matters that dominate their minds living little room to think deeply about this historic month.
Sydney Williams, a fourth-year Chemical Engineering student, said that she wanted to experience more joy this month. “A foot massage would be good.”
For Samantha Goodwin, a Computer Science student, Women’s Month is a good way to shift stereotypes about women. Coincidentally, she recently reread Still I Rise by Maya Angelou – a poem that she believes continues to hold relevance today. “It’s speaks to the spirit of women. We tend to lift ourselves everyday.”
Other students cited experiencing patriarchy and sexism on campus.
Aslina Shaikh, a final-year Bachelor of Sciences student majoring in maths, corporate finance, investment and economic sciences, says that she has had to learn very early to be assertive. “Women have to stand for the impact they make and shouldn’t let anyone steal their spotlight.” According to Shaikh, this statement is informed by an incident where a male classmate stole her work and claimed it as his – something she doubts he would have done to a male student.
Babalo Ngoma, a fourth-year medical student, would like to see more effort directed towards challenging subtle and overt sexism in the medical field. “Female students are not encouraged to pursue surgery – anything surgery such as cardiothoracic surgery, Nuero-surgery etc. They always channel women towards paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology - those are noble specialities but the underlying message is that this is all we should pursue because it supposedly gives women more flexibility to also have time for their families whereas the other specialities are demanding. As a woman you feel demotivated and weigh your professional and personal aspirations. But as a woman interested in surgery I push back.”
Women’s health was on top of mind for Siphoesihle Ngubeni, a first-year Chemical Engineering student, says her wish is for more information on reproductive health to be easily accessible. Raised by her father in a house full of boys, Ngubeni says she would appreciate more conversations on topics around women’s health as these are empowering adding that learning from other people’s experiences is valuable for those whom such discussions are a taboo at home.
More hints about life and navigating the personal and professional emerged as a reoccurring theme from female students, suggested a need for more casual and structured conversations in our communities that also enable 'day-students' to be part of conversations.