“Women in the army have to work three times as hard as men to get the same respect,” said Lieutenant (Lt) Lucreatia Williams. “Your ranking isn't enough to make them understand you're the one in charge.” Lt Williams is a Platoon Commander at Grahamstown's 6 South African Infantry Battalion (6 SAI) and one of many women serving in our country's defence force.
“Women in the army have to work three times as hard as men to get the same respect,” said Lieutenant (Lt) Lucreatia Williams. “Your ranking isn't enough to make them understand you're the one in charge.” Lt Williams is a Platoon Commander at Grahamstown's 6 South African Infantry Battalion (6 SAI) and one of many women serving in our country's defence force.
Looking northwards to the Air Force Base Waterkloof in Gauteng, Major Caro “Chucky” Duven recently became Africa's first woman commander of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Affectionately nicknamed the “Flossie”, this beast of a transport aircraft has the capacity to transport 92 people and weighs 34 400kg when empty.
Major Duven told South African Soldier (the official monthly magazine of the Department of Defence), “It is merely coincidence that I am a woman, because to achieve this milestone depends on how well you can fly and not who you are.”
Unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't comply with Major Duven's logical outlook. Studies in Forbes show that when doing the same job, woman are earning up to 23% less than men. In such a climate, women like Major Duven are an inspiration to woman in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
“When I stand in front of men, the first thing they see is my gender, not my rank,” said Lt Williams. Luckily our women have the backing of a solid organisation. In the SANDF, there are stringent policies in place to defeat gender and racial bias. “I rely heavily on the SANDF military policies which ensure the smooth running of operations, regardless whether I'm a woman or not.” said Lt Williams.
“When people think of the SANDF, they picture men with guns,” said Captain (Cpt) Grace Windvogel, chief nurse in the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS) at 6 SAI. “They forget that the military is more of a community: we have nurses and social workers, chaplains and barbers…” “And a chemist” interjected Lt Williams. “Yes even a chemist,” continued Cpt Windvogel.
“This wholly masculine image of the army is misdirected.” “Like any organisation, it's all about the attitude you bring with you,” said assistant personnel officer, Candidate Officer Nombulelo Zuma.
“Women experience hardship in the workplace everywhere you go and it's up to you, as an individual, to make it work. As long as you go to sleep knowing you did your best, then you're happy.” Hailing from Qoboqobo, a small town near Butterworth, Private Nondumiso Sgam has been a rifleman with 6 SAI for the past four years.
“In the lower ranks, we all report to the same Corporal. None of us has rank over another and so the fact that you're a woman makes no difference.” Private Sgam said if anything, language barriers had a far more isolating effect than gender.
“With everyone coming from such different corners of South Africa, it is mush easier making friends with people who speak your home language and no one else.” One of the most notable challenged of being a woman in the military is the physicality of it.
“It's a fact that men are physically stronger, so you have to work at it to make sure you're not left behind.” said Private Sgam. The one thing all the women agreed on was that the SANDF gives you the opportunity to grow, regardless whether you're a 'him' or a 'her'. “You know that all your hard work is going somewhere,” said Cpt Windvogel.
“You have the potential to grow in your field and be promoted if you put in the work.” “Stories like Major Duven's inspire us to climb the ladders of growth in our own field of service,” said Candidate Officer Zuma.
“We have a saying here in the SANDF: It's not just a job,” said Lt Williams, “You're serving the people of our country. I know we all go to bed with that in our minds, whether we're men or women.”
