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Dear Editor

I really wanted to comment on the article. Finally, a piece I can connect with on equality! Not only do I completely agree with what you have to say, and thank you so much for saying it, but I am so glad that you have explained it so well.

What I wanted to add to the conversation is that perhaps it’s time we rethink the role of men in society too. An idea I’ve been bantering around is that I think we should give men equal paternity leave (i.e. 4 months in South Africa) if it means that the mother can go back to work earlier if she wants to. Yes, I know there are physical reasons for a mother to stay at home for four months (recovering from pregnancy and the birth, and breastfeeding), but if it works for the family, it should work for the economy. Why can’t a father be afforded long term paternity leave if he and the mother choose to split the parenting that way? My husband would have loved to be the primary care giver during our children’s first four months, but he would’ve lost his job if he took that option… and my company very generously pays for maternity leave, so of course that’s the way we went. I believe that the structures of organisations perpetuate inequality, both actively through glass ceilings and pay gaps between the sexes, and passively through things like maternity leave / paternity leave.

Maybe if we looked at men as having something to gain – in terms of taking on some of the traditional female roles – through gender equality, we could also close the gender gap by breaking down stereotypical gender roles from both sides of the gender gap.

Anyway, excellent article, you really made my day.

Claire Thwaits
Managing Director NBS-SA,Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa

Dear Editor

Can I just say what an impressive and professional platform you and your team have created with ReConnect Africa?  The quality of the articles and information is remarkable and I always enjoy receiving the newsletter.  Thank you so much.

Norah Quarshie-Jones, UK