South African Women Share Insights on Female Growth

South African women have shared diverse perspectives on female growth in a street interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), showcasing public attention to women’s issues.

In an interview with a CGTN stringer, several women in South Africa discussed topics such as female-themed films and books, as well as the progress and growth of women.

Tsakane Matsilele, a South African student, talked about a TV series that deeply inspired her. The show chronicles the lives of nine women, exploring themes such as love and loss, resonating with countless women worldwide.

“So, a TV show that has inspired me the most is a show called ‘Home Affairs.’ It is a South African TV show that debuted in the early 2000s, and this show basically chronicled the lives of nine different women highlighting the intersections that lie within women’s experiences across the country. And the show touched on so many essential themes that are relevant and resonate with many women across the world. Such as love, loss, trauma, poverty, career struggles, you name it,” she said.

Beyond screen productions, literature is also a key inspiring source of spiritual strength for women.

Nokukhanya Khanyi Zulu, a language specialist, recommended a female writer, noting that she portrays female narratives through multifaceted perspectives that reveal both the authentic beauty of women’s strength and their vulnerabilities.

“[It] would be everything written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She really writes the female narrative in a way that’s multifaceted, where you get to see the strength of women along with their fears and their vulnerabilities. And I’d say that that whole roundedness is what makes us beautiful. It’s what makes us who we are,” said the specialist.

Nokukhanya Khanyi Zulu also said that over the past decade women have become more and more confident of themselves, which is amazing to see.

“In my field, I get the luxury of meeting a lot of women from all over the world on a day to day basis. And because of that, I’ve seen that women have really become more sure of themselves and in the past decade. That’s been amazing to see. I think we’ve always had a sense of strength. We’ve always had a sense of brilliance, intelligence, but now, more than ever, we’re very expressive about it. And I think that’s helped our communities overall,” she said.

Tsakane Matsilele described women with three words: resilient, liberated, and diverse, explaining her perspective through women’s ability to navigate hardships, exercise autonomy, and embrace life’s variety.

“So if I had to describe women in three words, it would be resilient, in how they navigate and overcome hardships, liberated because they are autonomous beings who are capable of determining your own futures. And lastly, it would be diverse, in the expressions, experiences, and in how they choose to live their lives,” said Matsilele.

China will soon host a global summit on women in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1995 World Conference on Women, aimed at promoting global gender equality and women’s development.