Stakeholder #3: the feminist edition (my personal favorite)

Description:

• Ok so now it's finally time for my favorite of all the stakeholders -- my fellow feminists! The women's activists actually play a crucial role in the development of this conflict since if they didn't make such a big deal about this grant passing then there wouldn't be much of a debate at all. These women's rights groups are almost depicted in the media as far left extremists who believe that all men are evil and will all burn in Hell. False. Mostly these  groups exist for women in developing countries that don't have established women's rights or who have outdated, sexist cultural practices (such as in this case). Digitally, these groups are found in various liberal news sites and magazines and definitely in true feminist blogs (not men-hating misandrist blogs). Physically, most people think of the classic protest with clever signs, pitchforks, torches, and women with braided armpit hair. However, that is a very extreme view and it can be noted that a feminist can be anyone, male or female, and usually look pretty normal (I know, it's a tough concept to grasp).

Tatum, Erin. "I'm Not a Feminist Since I Don't Hate Men." 5/10/15 via everydayfeminism.com. Licensed for noncommercial reuse.

I feel like this is how a lot of people think feminists look like and I take personal offense to that. At least I hope I don't look like that.

Claims:

• Women are held to a different sexual standard than men and that needs to stop. While women are taught to be "pure" and to "save yourself" the same is not taught to men. This is clearly evident with the passing of this grant. By actively excluding men from the selection pool, this grant is basically telling girls that they're the only ones who should be held to the high standard of staying "pure." While apparently men can do whatever they want. Mfanozelwe Shozi, a chairman for the Commission of Gender Equality, explained that "there is an issue around discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, virginity, and even against boys. This is going too far."

• Most sexual cases in young women in South Africa are against their will, so this grant has nothing to do with girls making an active decision to stay pure. Most of the time, it's out of their hands. Sisonke Msimang, a policy development and advocacy consultant for Sonke Gender Justice Project in Johannesburg, adds that, "this type of programme ignores the fact that that sexual behavior of young women is often not on their terms." Since the cases of sexual violence are extremely high in South Africa.  

• If someone chooses to have sex, they aren't giving up their opportunity to receive a good education. You shouldn't have to choose one or the other, especially since they're not even related. As Sisonke Msimang, a policy development and advocacy consultant for Sonke Gender Justice Project in Johannesburg, put it, "being sexually active and seeking an education have nothing to do with each other."

Credibility:

• These claims are questioning the credibility of not only the government, but the mayor's own personal beliefs as well as drawing into question certain outdated, sexist, and medically unsound cultural practices (i.e. virginity testing). These claims are drawing on years of medical research behind the validity of virginity testing and how science should trump certain sexist aspects of a culture. Culture needs to adapt to fit the modern world, and right now this bursary award is dragging the country farther and farther into the past. The activists involved have caused such an upset that the South African Department of Women got involved and are currently reviewing the Maiden's Bursary Award to make sure that it isn't undermining the women's rights movement and that it treats men and women equally (which it doesn't). So yeah, go feminists!

Similarities:

• The activists hold the same view as the students who were part of the protests and riots (#FeesMustFall) and didn't receive this particular scholarship. While both the students and the activists are more focused on changing the grant so it's more accessible to all students, the students want more money applied to other scholarships while the activist groups are fighting for equality. Although they share the same views, they have different motives fueling their fire.