Purple Profile Pictures, Women Rights, and Gender Inequality: What is Going on?

A non-profit organization, Women for Change (WFC), founded in 2016, is one of South Africa's most influential non-profit organizations in combating Gender-Based violence and Femicide.” 

Their mission is to raise awareness, advocate, and inspire meaningful change. They say that the rate of femicide in South Africa is 6x higher than the global average, with at least 16 women being murdered every day. They estimate that 95% of rape cases were not reported, raising an alarm that femicide and gender-based violence have reached a crisis point.

The WFC has decided to launch a national shutdown on November 21, just one day before South Africa's crucial 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, a yearly meeting where leaders from the world's biggest economies come together to discuss global economic and political issues. 

The WFC has said “We call on all women and members of the LGBTQI+ community across South Africa to refrain from all paid and unpaid work in workplaces, universities, and homes, and to spend no money for the entire day to demonstrate the economic and social impact of their absence, [...], because until South Africa stops burying a woman every 2.5 hours, the G2O cannot speak of growth and progress.” 

The non-profit organization is demanding that the South African government declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster. Many people are also using the #WomenShutdown to show support.

Today, Purple represents wisdom, dignity, courage, and resistance. It has become a call for justice, unity, and change, especially in the fight against gender violence. It stands as a beacon of solidarity that reminds us of how powerful we can be when unity is involved.

A long time ago, it was used to symbolize wealth and royalty because of its rare dye, but now it has transitioned to defiance and solidarity. The suffragettes of the early 20th century had adopted purple to symbolize justice and dignity in their fight for women's right to vote. In the 60s and 1970s, the second wave feminists revived purple and tied it to the broader women's liberation movement. 

Today, purple is worn and displayed during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While honoring victims and survivors, the color raises awareness for gender-based violence.

In color psychology, it represents creativity, independence, and ambition.

Now, it is being used to confront South Africa's epidemic of gender-based violence and femicide.

How Can You Participate in the National Shutdown?

• Dont work. No paid or unpaid work

• Don't spend money or withdraw from the economy for one day

• Join the 15-minute standstill by lying down for 15 minutes at 12:00 to honor the 15 women being murdered every day, and bring South Africa to a standstill

• Wear black to mourn and show resistance

• TALK ABOUT THE SHUTDOWN!

• Lastly, change your profile picture to purple

Learn more about this topic:

• Why the colour purple is a powerful symbol in the fight against

• gender-based violence

• Women For Change About Us

• Why are South Africans changing their profile pictures to purple?