Breaking stereotypes

LIFTING AS WE RISE

It takes just one woman to open the door for others and transform an entire industry. LISA WITEPSKI spoke to two women who exemplify this and, having broken the gender barriers, are helping other women to succeed in traditionally male-dominated industries

THE NEUROSURGEON

Dr Nomusa Shezi is always taken aback to think that although the University of KwaZulu-Natal fi rst opened its doors in the 1960s, it was a good half-century before she became the institution’s fi rst black female student (and one of only three women) to graduate as a neurosurgeon. “I don’t believe that only three women have wanted to follow this career path. The fact that more haven’t studied this science tells me that society isn’t paying attention to the obstacles in women’s paths.”

For Shezi, the biggest obstacle was that there was no one who “looked like” her in her classes – no one to be her advocate and encourage people to view things from a female perspective because they had walked the same road. Instead, she found that her male peers clung tightly to the status quo. “When I told my fourth-year anatomy professor that I wanted to specialise in neurosurgery, he said I’d have to choose between work and having a family. In sixth year, I bought a book on neuroanatomy for my own reading, and a classmate took it away because he said it was of no use to me.”

The most damning evidence of this ‘boys’ club’, though, was how reactions differed when Shezi’s classmates grappled with a complicated case. “Where my peers would commiserate with each other and say the experience was a common one, they would tell me that my handling of the same issue was unacceptable.”

Knowing just how vulnerable this made her feel, Shezi makes a point of speaking up for every female student with whom she works. “I point out that someone may not necessarily be less qualifi ed to do a procedure; they may simply be less vocal about their skills,” she says. She also mentors black females, helping them navigate the challenges she experienced. For instance, she reminds them that “showing emotion isn’t a weakness; to the contrast, because we work in a highly pressured fi eld, it’s entirely necessary”.

Shezi believes that her mere presence is enough to make more women consider a career in science.

Dr Nomusa Shezi

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every female student with whom she works. “I point out that someone may not necessarily be less qualifi ed to do a procedure; they may simply

FAST FACT At the time when Dr Shezi quali ed as a neurosurgeon, she was only one of ve black African female neurosurgeons in South Africa.

Source: SABC News (2017)

Dr Nomusa Shezi

“YOU NEED TO SEE PEOPLE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO – BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU NEED TO SEE THEM FAIL, SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT SUCCESS LIES ON THE OTHER SIDE.” – DR NOMUSA SHEZI

THE FARMER

Portia Morudi, co-founder of The Village Market Africa – which trains rural villagers in beekeeping – believes that women make natural farmers. “After all, as nurturers, we are accustomed to making sure that our families are well fed. Women throughout South Africa farm vegetables and fruit to put food on the table.”

This attitude translates into benefi ts for the environment, she maintains: “I think that women farmers are naturally more concerned with sustainability because we want to be sure that future generations will be able to feed themselves. This means that we are more likely to experiment with methods and technologies that secure tomorrow’s food source, rather than simply thinking about today.” This is a marked difference from current commercial farming practices that have led to degraded soil and negative environmental impacts.

She’s aware that her confidence in female farmers hasn’t always been widely shared: she recalls attending a conference shortly after taking up a career in agriculture where she was the only woman present. The anomaly of her appearance was further highlighted when one of the male delegates pointedly commented “us real farmers, not like one of those [women farmers]”. Nine years later, a lot has changed – women now have a far greater presence in the agricultural industry. Morudi attributes this to the increasing visibility of female farmers. “As Nelson Mandela said, ‘it always seems impossible until it’s done’. When women see that others have gone before them, they know that they can follow suit.” She is keenly aware of her responsibility as one of the trailblazers. “Building something is hard because you are laying a foundation and removing the obstacles for those who come after you. The path may be easier for them, but you still need to share your knowledge and resources and fi nd ways to support them.”

Morudi’s creed was shaped by the assistance she received when starting out. “I began beekeeping after my grandfather invited me to attend a course on the subject. My business benefi tted from an angel who believed in what we were doing and decided that to help me sustain it, she would pay my salary. I try to pay it forward by doing what I can to help other women make their businesses sustainable, too.”

“BUILDING SOMETHING IS HARD BECAUSE YOU ARE LAYING A FOUNDATION AND REMOVING THE OBSTACLES FOR THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU. THE PATH MAY BE EASIER FOR THEM, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES AND FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM.” – PORTIA MORUDI

Portia Morudi Portia’s story

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