Page 27 - Winning Women 2017

BWASA 27

WOMEN HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS

TRUIDA PREKEL

If you think women have it bad now,
here is some background and history
to illustrate what attitudes to women
were.
The United Nations had declared
1975 the International Year of Women,
leading to more awareness on
women’s issues.
Doing the part-time Master of
Business Leadership, I was a single
mum, and had started studying, not
so much out of career ambition, but
so that I could sell the Unisa School
of Business Leadership more
effectively. And also so that I could
educate my son about business,
economics and so on – not yet
UNITED The Women’s National Coalition thinking (at that stage) that my two-
surveyed women countrywide to highlight years-younger daughter also needed
their needs and demands for the it.
Constitution Colleagues were
Picture: Robben Island Museum amazed – “But why – UNITED A 1979 Pretoria
after all you are a News report on the
. FROM PAGE 26 woman?” – and warned workshop that led to the
She encouraged a friend of hers, Joy me that I was going to creation of what is today
Simpson, also in public relations, to battle. the Businesswomen’s
attend the repeat workshop in I did my dissertation Association.
November. By early January Margaret on “The Development
and Joy had both found sponsors for of the Managerial was in Standard 8 in
the clubs they wanted to start. Potential of South Afrikaanse Seuns
The Executive Women’s Club was African Women” – an Truida Prekel Hoërskool. He had a
launched in Johannesburg on February extensive literature bright English teacher
19 1980, with sponsorship from study and qualitative research on who let the boys read
Barclays Bank. If I remember correctly, 60 large South African employers. newspapers to stimulate interest in
membership was on invitation only. I surprised everyone by winning English.
Members had to be on a senior level, the gold medal as best student. But I Suddenly one of the boys shouted:
and were “approved”. heard later that I almost didn’t get it. “Guys, just hear what Smit’s mother
On February 29 the then minister of The director of the school asked says…” Poor chap!
finance Owen Horwood launched the another professor for advice. Management magazine also
Sheba Club in The Carlton – with Air “Truida is the best student, but we reported on my research: “Unisa
France and the Carlton Hotel as can’t give her the gold medal. It researcher says it is ability that
sponsors – and run mainly by Joy and would reflect badly on the school if a counts – not whether the manager
Wilma Lawson-Turnbull. woman wins the award.” wears pants or panties.”
The idea agreed was that the Eventually common sense prevailed, And the writer also made some
Executive Women’s Club would focus and when I did receive the award in reference to the Petticoat Parade in
more on women executives, and Sheba early 1978, it hit the headlines. management.
on all women in business. In some cases, the press was still As I looked at old clippings, I was
Sheba continued to be run in battling to come to grips with the amazed about the sexist and “stupid”
Johannesburg by Joy until recently. changes. headings the (presumably male) sub-
Sadly, Margaret and Joy have both After I had won the gold medal a editors added.
passed away. man from The Pretoria News Admiral Edwards of the South
The Executive Women’s Club had interviewed me. African navy opened the workshop
many remarkable and pioneering He asked “Would you say the rugby that led to the foundation of the
women as members, including mentality of South African men is Executive Women’s Club. The
Elizabeth Bradley, Anna Starcke, Carole the reason for the lack of women headline to a Pretoria News story
Charlewood, Adele Lucas, Joan Joffe, managers in South Africa?” about it was: “Are women just men
Jane Raphaely, Pam Golding, Wendy I said: “I haven’t thought of it in with extra-long hair.”
Luhabe, Angie Makwetla and Jopie van that way, but it may be true.” So, even if we feel women still have
Rooyen – wonderful women from The interview continued with more a long way to go in business, and
whom we could all learn and gain info on my findings. problems like prejudice, stereotypes
inspiration. The headline of the story? “Truida and sexual harassment still exist, we
In the late 1990s the merger blames it on rugby”. have also moved ahead towards
happened under the new name of the It read: “Truida Smit, who won the greater inclusivity and
Businesswomen’s Association. gold medal as the top student in the acknowledgement, and have achieved
With a lack of “queen bee syndrome”, Master’s in Business Leadership, a lot in the past four decades.
the three merged in order to achieve blames the rugby mentality of South And it is important that we
synergy and speak in one voice – African men for the lack of women in maintain the culture of collaboration
instead of three organisations all management.” and mutual support to encourage one
looking for sponsorship from business, To make matters worse, my son another to achieve greater heights.
and competing for members.