GENDER equality and equity remain central to building inclusive, peaceful and progressive communities.
This message was delivered last Friday at the Harare City Library during a Gender Workshop themed Building an Equitable Future: Understanding Gender and Societal Transformation.
The event brought together students, teachers and gender advocates to discuss gender responsiveness and the importance of creating balance and fairness between women and men.
Dambudzo Tsikada, a representative of Musasa Project, emphasised the need to foster gender responsiveness in schools and communities.
She urged participants to recognise the importance of equal participation and opportunities for both genders, explaining that empowerment should not be viewed as competition, but as a partnership.
Tsikada guided the audience through the different forms of gender-based violence (GBV), how to identify early warning signs and the importance of seeking legal and psychological support.
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She noted that GBV affects everyone, adding that addressing it required understanding, accountability and collaboration across gender lines.
Sindiso Moyo, the executive director for Harare City Library, highlighted the library’s evolving role as more than just a reading space.
He described it as a community hub providing access to information, workshops and platforms for dialogue on social issues such as gender equality and violence prevention.
Moyo explained that the institution deliberately engages partners like Musasa Project and university experts to dispel myths surrounding gender.
“Violence is not confined to one gender,” he said, stressing that both men and women can be victims or perpetrators.
He encouraged participants to be ambassadors of peace and gender awareness within their communities.
From the education sector, Plaxedes Mutsago, a teacher at Roosevelt Girls High School, reflected on the misconceptions that often blur the lines between sex roles and gender roles.
She commended the workshop for clarifying these distinctions, particularly for young learners.
“Our children now understand that gender equality is not about competition, but about fairness and respect,” she said.
Mutsago called on parents and teachers to model gender sensitivity at home and in schools by creating an environment where boys and girls receive equal encouragement and opportunities.
“When we nurture both genders equitably, we build a better society and a stronger nation,” she added.
Bringing an academic and analytical perspective, Joe Muzurura, the chairperson of the Harare City Library and a university lecturer in gender studies, unpacked the conceptual differences between sex and gender.
He explained that while sex is biological and determined at birth, gender is socially constructed through cultural expectations and norms.
“Gender is not synonymous with men or women and it is about the social meanings we attach to being male or female,” he noted.
Muzurura elaborated key gender concepts such as equality, equity, empowerment and sensitivity.
He cautioned against gender blindness and ignoring the biological and social differences that shape experiences and opportunities.
Using relatable examples, he challenged stereotypes that confine men and women to certain professions, pointing out that skills and potential are not determined by gender.
He also observed a shift in academic performance, with girls now outperforming boys in many institutions, urging educators and policymakers to design inclusive strategies that support both genders.
Furthermore, Muzurura emphasised that gender equity, ensuring fair access to and control over resources, is as vital as gender equality.
He highlighted land ownership as a key example in Zimbabwe, where access without control limits empowerment.
“True empowerment comes when both women and men can access and manage resources equally,” he said, urging youth to advocate for equality and equity to build a just and sustainable society.
The Harare City Library Gender Workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to promoting gender-responsive attitudes across schools and communities.
Through the collaboration of organisations like Musasa Project, educational institutions and civic spaces, the dialogue reinforced the need for inclusive participation, informed awareness and shared responsibility in achieving gender equity.