08 May 2023

While cultural challenges regarding gender-based violence in Ohio, US are similar to those in Botswana, there is still a gap in helping black women defeat oppression and violations in their communities.

This is because despite a black woman’s financial and social standings they still give in to GBV.

“A good example would be Serena Williams who even though she is financially stable and holding a big position in the community suffered discrimination and health violations,” said Danielle Hixon, a student at University of Cincinnati during a symposium held at BA ISAGO University.

She stated that despite Ohio being a well-established state in terms of medicine and health facilities, black women continued to die of cancer at an alarming rate due to cultural barriers and discrimination.

She also encouraged people to make a neutral ground for everyone regardless of the culture, race and rank in the society so as to build better relations and eliminate GBV in their communities.

Professor Vanessa Allen Brown said the topic of GBV was one of the most complex problems to unravel yet its prevention was one of the far-reaching goals to seek.

Tshiamo Molebatsi, a student at BA ISAGO stated that there were certain cultural practices that violated against women’s rights, thus encouraging GBV and throughout the years some cultural barriers have been broken to a measurable level.

“Women were considered to be emotional beings thus not qualifying to occupy certain posts in the society, but that has changed nowadays as there is an improvement. We see the likes of Minister of Finance, Ms Peggy Serame in big positions in the community,” said Molebatsi.

The Study Abroad coordinator at the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services at the University of Cincinnati said the purpose of their visit was to learn about other cultures, GBV being the main topic of discussion. ENDS