Paul Samuelson, the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Economics, and regarded by the The New York Times to be the "foremost academic economist of the 20th century", long ago remarked that "women are just men with less money".

As a purely economic statement, and forgetting for the time being womanhood’s critical and so-far unchallenged status in the reproductive cycle, many feminists may agree with the historical accuracy of this statement.

Having passed away just over a year ago at the age of 94, Mr Samuelson would also have been aware of the gradual increase of the number of women in the workplace, a work force that the Economist’s December 30 issue rated as being about to cross the 50% threshold to become the majority gender (in developed nations) in the next few months, for the first time in history.

But the Economist’s cover focus explains that the majority of those jobs have been of a lowly and menial nature, generally involving repetitive work with little prospect for real personal advancement. The newspaper also refers to the worrying wage gap commonly encountered when comparing men and women of similar qualification, experience and work obligations.

Does the same hold for South Africa? What does this mean for our country? Certainly the momentum gained from the legacies of former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki in advancing the cause of women in governmental leadership roles have caused some to achieve previously unthinkable positions.

In many ways this promotion of one of the most integral elements of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa has put our country ahead of other developed nations in recognising a modern place and regard for women.

But the fact remains that institutionalised sexism and male-centric gender bias has kept women in primarily lower-earning positions and duties, and the potential economic benefit to women has been handicapped.

This year 2010 holds for South Africa a special dream, and it is a dream open to both men an women. The good news is that the significant role of women gaining momentum in our society is increasingly beyond reasonable debate, whatever injustice bias may occasion, as it so often does.

More good news is that we women are by nature persevering in nature, and because of our former diminished status in society, we are accustomed to volunteerism. These are the very tools of a revival, and a revival is what our country is most desperately in need of.

This year 2010 holds a special dream for us here in South Africa, but we must not forget that 2011 follows next year, and next year there will be no FIFA World Cup to draw millions in investment from visitors.

The fact of women working hard is not a new reality in South Africa. The fact of a large female working class is not a new thing either. For the majority in our country, times are very tough right now. It’s time to remember each other, to find out what is needed to lift the weakening spirits of another, and if we can, to make it so.

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