The assassination of openly gay Imam Muhsin Hendricks in Gqeberha on February 15 has sent shockwaves through communities advocating for gender and LGBTQIA+ rights. Hendricks was shot while seated in a car after officiating the wedding of a lesbian couple - a brutal reminder of the dangers faced by those who challenge rigid patriarchal and religious norms.
Speaking at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) welcome event for new postgraduate students in Gender Studies, Prof Sarojini Nadar, interim dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, called his murder a chilling indication that religion remains one of the fiercest battlegrounds in the struggle for gender justice. “Too often, faith has been weaponised against women, queer, and trans people - against all who do not conform to rigid patriarchal structures of power. But religion can also be a site of resistance,” she said.
The event, attended by UWC’s newly inaugurated Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour, emphasised the importance of Gender Studies as a field that interrogates power structures and fights against oppression. Prof Balfour, who has chosen to be located within the department, spoke about the critical role of identity and rights in shaping UWC’s broader vision for social transformation. “People are who they express themselves to be. Identity is seldom fixed,” he said.
Professor Lindsay Clowes, a retired scholar from the department, reflected on the significance of the event, noting that after 25 years of attending postgraduate orientations in the department, she was most inspired by this one and felt hopeful for the future.
Baleseng Maenche, an NGAP lecturer in the department, spoke about the chronic underfunding and undervaluing of the arts and humanities, with gender studies being particularly affected. She raised this concern directly with Professor Balfour, inquiring whether more resources could be allocated to the field under his leadership. In response, Prof. Balfour acknowledged the need for greater investment and emphasised that addressing this issue requires innovative and strategic approaches, particularly through the University’s Careful Stewardship campaign.
PhD student Nonkosi Z. Xaba raised concerns about the visibility and support for transgender rights, questioning whether the ‘T’ in LGBTQIA+ was still acknowledged at the University. Professor Balfour responded, “I love the ‘T’,” prompting laughter and signalling his support for trans rights. He encouraged students to explore issues affecting the trans community and to use their research to elevate marginalised voices.
Prof Nadar also addressed the global backlash against Gender Studies, noting that the field is increasingly under siege by right-wing movements. “It is now being dismissed as ‘Grievance Studies.’ Our field is ridiculed, not because it lacks intellectual merit, but precisely because it is dangerous - dangerous to those who benefit from the status quo,” she said.
Despite these challenges, she emphasised that Gender Studies must also be a space of joy and imagination. “Too often, we become so consumed by dismantling oppressive systems that we forget to create alternatives. But as bell hooks remind us, ‘The academy is not just paradise, but learning is a place where paradise can be created,’” she said.
She encouraged students to read widely, think deeply, and envision a world beyond oppression. “You are part of a long and ongoing struggle, and you are in the right place. Welcome - we are honoured to have you here,” she concluded.
Speaking at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) welcome event for new postgraduate students in Gender Studies, Prof Sarojini Nadar, interim dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, called his murder a chilling indication that religion remains one of the fiercest battlegrounds in the struggle for gender justice. “Too often, faith has been weaponised against women, queer, and trans people - against all who do not conform to rigid patriarchal structures of power. But religion can also be a site of resistance,” she said.
The event, attended by UWC’s newly inaugurated Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour, emphasised the importance of Gender Studies as a field that interrogates power structures and fights against oppression. Prof Balfour, who has chosen to be located within the department, spoke about the critical role of identity and rights in shaping UWC’s broader vision for social transformation. “People are who they express themselves to be. Identity is seldom fixed,” he said.
Professor Lindsay Clowes, a retired scholar from the department, reflected on the significance of the event, noting that after 25 years of attending postgraduate orientations in the department, she was most inspired by this one and felt hopeful for the future.
Baleseng Maenche, an NGAP lecturer in the department, spoke about the chronic underfunding and undervaluing of the arts and humanities, with gender studies being particularly affected. She raised this concern directly with Professor Balfour, inquiring whether more resources could be allocated to the field under his leadership. In response, Prof. Balfour acknowledged the need for greater investment and emphasised that addressing this issue requires innovative and strategic approaches, particularly through the University’s Careful Stewardship campaign.
PhD student Nonkosi Z. Xaba raised concerns about the visibility and support for transgender rights, questioning whether the ‘T’ in LGBTQIA+ was still acknowledged at the University. Professor Balfour responded, “I love the ‘T’,” prompting laughter and signalling his support for trans rights. He encouraged students to explore issues affecting the trans community and to use their research to elevate marginalised voices.
Prof Nadar also addressed the global backlash against Gender Studies, noting that the field is increasingly under siege by right-wing movements. “It is now being dismissed as ‘Grievance Studies.’ Our field is ridiculed, not because it lacks intellectual merit, but precisely because it is dangerous - dangerous to those who benefit from the status quo,” she said.
Despite these challenges, she emphasised that Gender Studies must also be a space of joy and imagination. “Too often, we become so consumed by dismantling oppressive systems that we forget to create alternatives. But as bell hooks remind us, ‘The academy is not just paradise, but learning is a place where paradise can be created,’” she said.
She encouraged students to read widely, think deeply, and envision a world beyond oppression. “You are part of a long and ongoing struggle, and you are in the right place. Welcome - we are honoured to have you here,” she concluded.
