S2, Ep. 2 Recognising the complexity of people's stories - the case for empathic advocacy

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Women are still changing the way we’re changing the world.

In season 2, episode 2 of the Just for a Change podcast we tackle an important topic - empathic advocacy. The idea of a single life with multiple narratives running in parallel, is an intriguing one. It throws us off, and can perhaps even cause some discomfort. Who deserves our time and attention? How do we advocate for people on the margins? What is empathic advocacy and how does it affect the work we do in the area of systems change? What role does stigma play in reducing people’s stories to a single narrative when really they are more complex.

In this episode’s feature story podcast host, Kentse Radebe, hosts a conversation with Duduzile Dlamini from SWEAT - an organisation that advocates for the rights of sex workers in South Africa and Zeenat Hendricks from Rape Crisis. Rape Crisis is a feminist organisation that works towards achieving women’s rights by offering counselling, education and training, advocacy and community mobilisation. How does empathic advocacy work in these spaces? Why is this work so important and how are we moving towards making the world a more just place - especially for women.

In the positive outlook segment Simnikiwe Xanga chats with Velna - a mentor mother from mothers2mothers to hear about the innovative work they are doing by employing women to help other women and their families on the journey to good health.

Links:
https://rapecrisis.org.za/
http://www.sweat.org.za
https://mobilisationlab.org/stories/the-force-of-empathy-in-advocacy-storytelling/
https://theconversation.com/the-stigma-of-sex-work-comes-with-a-high-cost-79657
Resources on creative activism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh-aoYWrACw
18 Aug 2021 English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

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