Stakeholder #2: the government edition

Description:

• This virginity grant was mayor Mazibuko's brainchild so she was definitely a main component of this debate. She is a slightly larger African woman (who works her curves) with a friendly face and a beautiful and white smile. She also happens to be a part of a larger group -- the municipality of Uthukela. There is always such a scrutinizing public eye whenever any kind of government is involved. Whatever the government does it can never be completely 100% right, there is usually always something that could've been done better or more efficiently. However, when such a controversial grant is mentioned, it's hard to keep your composure when the whole world is staring at you to make your next move. Digitally, there are countless feminist and liberal news articles berating the actions of mayor Mazibuko and the municipality for allowing such a sexist grant into existence. Physically, the act of the virginity tests being performed show exactly what's expected of these women in order to be given money, even though there is no similar test for guys to take. This shows that there is a completely different standard for men than there is for women.

Lumbantobing, Alexander. "Dikecam Beasiswa Khusus Untuk Siswi Perawan." 1/26/16 via liputan6.com. Licensed for noncommercial reuse.
Mayor Dudu Mazibuko herself

Claims:

• Just like the students who received the award, the mayor and the rest of the government doesn't want the bill to be banned. Obviously. That would be like a mom saying she doesn't really like her kid. Mazibuko actually said in defense of the Maiden's Bursary Award that, "To us, it's just to say thank you for keeping yourself and you can still keep yourself for the next three years until you get your degree or certificate." 

• One of the main arguments for the creation of this grant is that this is the government's way to take action against the rising HIV rates. Since South Africa has the highest amount of diagnosed HIV cases in the world. Mayor Dudu Mazibuko herself said that this grant is intended to, "reduce HIV, AIDS, and unwanted pregnancy among women and girls in the region." 

• Another main theme of keeping this grant around is that the mayor wants to empower women to take control of their lives and follow through with their education. The spokesperson for the municipality, Jabulani Mkhonza, described this certain type of grant as a way for "girls to keep themselves pure and inactive from sexual activity and focus on their studies." 

Credibility:

• Honestly, the women's rights movement has come too far just to be undermined by some mayor in South Africa trying to establish her beliefs in the school system. Having a sex life and getting an education are two completely different things that have no correlation with each other. Also, along those same lines, if the goal is to lower the HIV rates in South Africa, wouldn't it be more beneficial to also include men in the running for this award? Why does the responsibility of staying sexually inactive or "pure" fall solely on the women's shoulders? Also, why does the mayor refer to virginity as "keeping yourself?" You do not become less of a person if you choose to have sex, or if you don't choose to have sex. Why is it that this government only cares about women staying pure in order to focus on their studies? Why not open it up to men and women since it takes two to tango? This grant is a thinly veiled attempt at continuing outdated cultural practices and it needs to stop.

Similarities:

• The students who received the Maiden's Bursary Award are on the same page as the government and Mayor Mazibuko herself. I mean obviously, if someone gave you money you wouldn't willingly give it back if other people told you to (at least I wouldn't, I don't know about you). I totally understand why Mazibuko is fighting so hard for the legitimacy of this grant, I mean this was her original idea and now it's being put to the test. I think she had the right idea, but it wasn't executed in the right way at all. But I mean at least she tried right? I just feel bad for the students who already received the award and are receiving so much hate for going through with the process. But I mean at the end of the day they're just broke college kids trying to desperately get out of debt.