Speaking up: empowering women in the SA workplace

ASSERTING BOUNDARIES

- GAISHRIE SHARON SINGH

EVERY year, the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign reminds us that abuse doesn’t always appear in extreme forms.

Sometimes, it hides in plain sight — in boardrooms, office corridors and casual comments that make women feel small, uneasy or unsafe.

For many South African women, the workplace represents both progress and pressure. It’s where we build careers, break barriers, and prove our worth.

Yet, for too many, it’s also a space where unwanted advances, subtle bullying, or misuse of authority leave lasting emotional scars. These experiences are often dismissed as “harmless” or “not serious enough to report”, but they are part of a deeper problem — a culture that excuses misconduct and silences women.

Silence protects the problem, not the person

In many organisations, women hesitate to speak up because they fear being labelled “overreacting”, “too emotional”, or “difficult”.