Drunk driving should be condemned beyond gender stereotypes
THE KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma in last week's story in the Sunday Tribune raised concern about the rise in the number of women motorists who are nabbed for drunk driving at recent roadblocks in KZN. The author of this letter argues that while women are known as nurturers and homemakers, the condemnation of drunk driving should go beyond gender stereotypes.
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The story carried by the Sunday Tribune in last week's edition about Transport MEC Siboniso Duma’s concern over the growing number of women being arrested for drunk driving left me with mixed feelings.
Driving under the influence is a serious offence that has claimed too many innocent lives. Alcohol continues to destroy families and communities, especially among those who can’t consume it in moderation.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder if the MEC was suggesting that only men should be the ones drinking. Even in Biblical times, women drank wine as part of dining and celebration.
These days, though, alcohol has become a social media accessory, a way to show off a so-called "soft life". Yet, in truth, it’s a lifestyle that leads nowhere good. Many eateries in Durban and nearby areas have turned into drinking holes where loud music takes over, and they’re no longer family-friendly places for dinners or late lunches.
There is nothing glamorous about alcohol. As a woman, I sometimes ask myself whether I'm betraying feminism by saying that the number of women arrested for drunk driving is worrying. Women are, by nature, homemakers and nurturers. When they overindulge in something as destructive as alcohol, it should concern us all, for what it says about our society's values.
That said, drunk driving should be condemned across the board, not just among women. We live in the age of e-hailing. And if some feel unsafe using these services, there are always sober friends or family who can help.
Let’s all stay safe on the roads.| ZamaNtungwa Khumalo KwaDukuza