PIET Naude's observations are accurate ("Society denigrates women", February 26). I recently attended a medical training course, and was embarrassed by the disparaging tone used about women by some of the eminent doctors teaching us and by the amusement of the male doctors in response.
Writing articles, protesting and signing petitions may help to raise awareness, but we have to do more. It is not enough to describe the issue and accept the status quo.
We have to work towards improving the situation. This entails changing a sick culture, gradually through education and immediately through enforcing serious consequences for rape.
Kazeka Mashologu Kuse's suggestion of castration of convicted rapists is appropriate ("Drastic action on violence must come from men", February 26).
Education messages need to be simple and everywhere: in schools, churches, offices and shops, on roadsides, TV, radio, newspapers and social media.
Aggression is not inherently harmful. People can decide what to do with this biological energy, necessary for survival and progress.
Men must learn to direct their aggression constructively, to build healthy relationships, families, businesses, enterprises, places and systems, not to use it destructively by harming, hurting and breaking down.
We need to praise and encourage men when they behave well, not admire them when they don't respect women and children. I suspect they honestly don't realise how humiliated women feel when belittled and I suspect that many women are not aware of the root of their poor self-esteem.
Each one of us can and must make a difference wherever we are.
N Jolly, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth
Letters
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