Women’s Day – 9 August 2024
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Psychological Society of South Africa during our 30th year of democracy as a country we recognize the efforts of a now fast-growing network of psychological researchers and practitioners who are contributing to discourses on decolonization alongside a critical engagement and foregrounding of African and African-centered forms of psychology. This growing body of scholarship and practice recognizes that contextually grounded questions of liberation, well-being and healing can only be addressed through this lens, and from here. At the same time, there is recognition that South African and African forms of psychology have much we can offer the world. Taking a contextually rooted approach enables the asking and answering of psychological questions that have never before been asked nor answered.
In celebration of this Women’s Day and in commemoration and gratitude to the thousands of women who fought against oppressive apartheid legislation and contributed to the freedoms we enjoy today – we take this moment to consider the questions that should be asked and answered – for, and from here. Enhancing the freedoms of women and all gender non-conforming persons means we should be rethinking the questions we ask about women’s equality, access to education, to health and to the economy. We should be thinking anew about questions around gender categorization, gender identification and the gendered language. We should be asking about the meanings of the historical and other forms of ongoing trauma around what it means to be and navigate the world as a woman in South Africa and on our continent; what does it mean to be free and to live a good life. What does it mean to be well, and live lives of freedom and dignity as South African, African women in light of the global stereotypes about African womanhood and girlhood?
As we think about these and the many other questions that should be asked and answered we remember, with pride, the leading role that South Africa plays on the global stage with regard to questions of human rights, global solidarity and justice, especially for the people of Palestine and we reiterate our commitment to well-being, peace, equality, dignity and justice for all.
