When Men’s Voices Drown Women’s Cries: A Call for Genuine Accountability
When Men’s Voices Drown Women’s Cries: A Call for Genuine Accountability By Noko Mabofa Maleka In recent months, I have watched with growing dismay as platforms emerge—ostensibly to address “men’s issues”—rising like mushrooms after the rain. On the surface, these forums promise solidarity, self‑improvement, and brotherhood. But listen closely: they are eerily reminiscent of walls built around bullies, drowning out the small, desperate voices that cry for help while perishing in the hands of the same oppressors. To create yet another space for men to air their grievances—especially now, as survivors of gender‑based violence (GBV) and child molestation finally find the courage to speak—reveals a society more interested in protecting its perpetrators than its victims. Consider this: when men petition against rising petrol prices, or protest “unfair stereotypes,” they do so from positions of relative comfort and safety. Meanwhile, seven‑year‑old children—souvenirs of men’s unchecked po...