Prof Dalien Rene Benecke – Strategic Communication Department – University of Johannesburg – Power of Communication

Womanity - Women in Unity

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Prof Rene Benecke from the Strategic Communication Department at the University of Johannesburg.

Communication is dynamic and multifaceted, influencing everything from activism to personal branding. Prof Benecke shares some of her views on how the concepts of network theory and community influencers intersect in practice, emphasising the interdependency between individuals and their networks to enable issues to be addressed. We consider personal branding for women through a communication lens, which Prof. Benecke distils into three elements; we need to find our own voice, we need to develop our confidence and we need to believe that we are good enough. In building ourselves we establish a space in the world that we can contribute to meaningfully.

Prof. Benecke’s work also explores the tragic reality of gender-based violence (GBV), described by President Ramaphosa as South Africa’s second pandemic. There are several theoretical arguments about why GBV occurs and possible methods to solve it. In practical terms, victims of GBV or of potential assault need to know who they can contact to help them. Reflecting on the murder of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, sometimes the struggles that a person deals with are hidden from view, and we should all be more sensitive to the plight of other women and intervening where possible to help.

Today’s show is dedicated to the memory of Rebecca Cheptegei, may her soul rest in peace.

Tune in for more….