Women with Disability-Sexuality & Sensuality

The Book Café Gender Forum took place on the 28th of August hosting Marlene Le Roux, Director of Artscape Audience Development and Education Artistic Program(Capetown)  Soneni Gwizi(Radio Broadcaster, Gender & Disability Activist) chaired by Cleopatra Ndlovu(Gender Activist) The discussion set to interrogate issues that affect disabled women and how much advocacy is being done vis a vis what needs to be done in regards to the protection and promotion of the interests of disadvantaged and disabled women in Africa.

Cleopatra Ndlovu, Marlene Le Roux congratulate Soneni Gwizi as she receives the Women4Africa Award: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Issues raised included unfavourable policies and laws where women with disabilities are concerned, insensitive infrastructure, the silence(Marlene highlighted her encounter with disabled people who were locked up in their homes by family members and not allowed to leave the house), abuse of disabled women, maternal concerns, the need to empower the disabled so they are able to fend for themselves as being disabled in very costly.

The charisma and humour exuded by Marlene and Soneni was infectious, speaking to the fact that life does not end because one is disabled.  "The campaign about disability is not just about us born with disability, it's also about you can become disabled."


Marlene Le Roux in performance: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

"Who are you to tell me I'm not a woman/

I have thighs, I have breasts, I have a bum, I have a vagina,

I have everything that you yearn for/

  So who are you not to tell me I'm not disabled/

I am a disabled wonderful woman/I am a woman." Marlene Le Roux

Soneni Gwizi, honoured by Women 4Africa, 2013 in the Recognition for Outstanding Achievement category. The awards honour and celebrate African women who are dedicated to making positive and impactful change in their communities: PAMBERI TRUST PHOTO

Other issues raised included the need for advocacy to teach the general populace who one day may find themselves disabled or bring forth a child that is disabled; demystification of  cultural perceptions regarding disability; portrayal of people with disabilities in the media.

The profound closing was, "Nothing about us without us."

The Book Cafe Gender Forum is a monthly discussion, targeting human rights activists, members of civic society, and members of the general public.  This month’s discussion was made possible by the Book Café Gender Forum in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

By Batsirai E Chigama
for Pamberi Trust