Nikiwe Bikitsha writes delightfully in her column High Heels, in the Mail & Guardian (South African) of 23-29 October 2009, about dating, mating and dominance (Download Dating habits Nikiwe Bikitsha MG 23-29 Oct09). She skilfully compares the dating habits of urban 'animals' with the mating habits in the wild. Although I love the piece I cannot help thinking if girl-pride is not perpetuating male dominance?
Nikiwe brilliantly sketches the scene of a group of city women on a game drive observing a lioness in oestrus wanting to mate
The oestrus cycle in female mammals is a hormonally controlled, regularly repeated stages by which the body is prepared for reproduction. In anoestrus the female reproductive apparatus is inactive; in pro-oestrus it becomes active; and in oestrus ovulation usually occurs and the female becomes receptive to males. Unless fertilization occurs, oestrus gives way to anoestrus as the cycle repeats.
Nikiwe observes that the lioness has now option than to wait and asks the question: "which woman wants to be the hunter?" and then states "it's not attractive and offends our pride". What pride?—Isn't it just perpetuating male dominance. I am of opinion that feminism and ultimately equality is about changing ways of doing, changing rituals. My Martie asked me about 13 years ago to marry her and I am very glad she did.
