Written By: Sham Moodley
January 4, 2023
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” These words from the iconic Martin Luther King speak to our responses, or lack thereof, to the injustices and atrocities that continue to exist in many parts of the world. They lead me today to revisit our role, particularly as male pharmacists, in addressing gender discrimination as it manifests itself in the sector within which we work.
The issues of gender disparity and power imbalances reflected in the male-dominated health landscape across the globe continue to plague the health sector despite the advocacy and targeted attention it has received for more than two decades. It got me thinking about deep-seated structural and cultural barriers that remain in place, despite valiant efforts to dismantle them. I believe that it is incumbent upon us to be first implementors of gender equality in our profession, within our own workspace and in the broader pharmacy sector. In my own country, South Africa, I was deeply involved as an activist that fought for transformation and democracy during and after apartheid. One clear lesson I learnt is that democracy cannot exist without gender equality and the full emancipation of women and girls. While the FIP Equality Rx blog is rightly dominated by women writers, it is imperative that we hear the voices of men, who have a critical role to play in ensuring that the goal of gender equality is reached. It is within the power of all of us to make a difference. Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.
I am encouraged by the young men and women that have taken control of their own futures — as reflected in the creation of the Generation Equity concept. Their voices and demands in the labour market, their professional careers, the political arena, in access to services and, most importantly, on sexual harassment and violence against women and girls will certainly blaze a more vibrant path towards an equal society. Recently, through my participation in the work of the FIP Young Pharmacists Group and the South Africa Pharmacy Student Federation, it has become clear that the pharmacy workforce will continue to be outnumbered by women. We therefore cannot allow the slogan “Delivered by women, led by men” to exist any longer. We have shown little appetite to interrogate the phenomenon of equality and women’s rights, and I believe that this is a serious indictment on our profession. It is therefore vital that we, as a sector engage in deep introspection to rectify this. These inequities, without question, significantly and negatively impact economic growth and social development. In South Africa, from the top 10 pharma CEO’s, presidents and chairs of our associations and heads of pharmaceutical services to owners of community pharmacies, every area reflects a minefield of barriers significantly obstructive to the advancement of women, thereby inhibiting a breakthrough of the proverbial glass ceiling. Instances where companies have demonstrated commitment to creating opportunities for women in leadership, have seen them move rapidly into the top 10 of the FTSE 100 rankings. Gender equality is listed as one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and is included in the 21 FIP Development Goals for pharmacy.
Finally, the words and views of philosopher and humanist Elie Wiesel resonate deeply with me. He said: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.”