Gender equality in herbal practice
Who cares who leads a clinic or who collects and sells a healing plant? It matters more than you think. Gender equality shapes who gets training, who keeps traditional knowledge, and who benefits from herbal businesses. On Herbal News SA we focus on practical steps that herbalists, clinics, and communities can use right now to make herbal healthcare fairer across South Africa.
Practical steps for practitioners
Start inside your practice. Track who attends trainings, who gets leadership roles, and who receives payment for plant collections. If women are the primary healers but men run the business side, change that balance with clear role descriptions and shared decision-making. Offer flexible training times and child-friendly meeting options so caregivers can join without losing income or time with family.
Create a simple code of conduct that protects staff and clients from harassment. Train staff to spot and respond to gender-based violence and referral pathways. Small moves—like private consultation rooms, clear consent procedures for sharing recipes or patient stories, and fair wages for collectors—build trust and keep knowledge where it belongs: with the community.
Community actions and policy
Work with local groups to document women’s herbal knowledge with consent and fair benefit-sharing. Use community mapping sessions to show who collects, prepares, and sells herbs. When knowledge is recorded, agree on ownership and compensation up front. That prevents exploitation and gives women legal ground if disputes arise.
Push local associations to adopt gender-sensitive policies. That could mean quotas for leadership roles, transparent funding rules, or grants targeted at women-led initiatives. When associations set rules, funders and councils listen. Encourage representation on health committees so traditional practices are included in broader public health decisions.
Research and evidence matter. Promote studies that examine gendered access to herbal resources and health services. Advocate for research that hires and compensates local women as co-researchers, not just as subjects. This changes whose voices are heard and whose needs get funding.
Small examples inspire big change. Run a mentorship circle where experienced women healers teach business skills to younger practitioners. Host a market day that highlights women-led herbal products with fair pricing and clear origin stories. Offer microgrants for women who want to scale a clinic or start a sustainable herb farm.
Want to act today? Support women-owned herbal businesses, share stories that credit female healers, and raise the issue in local meetings. If you run a clinic, do a quick gender audit: who earns what, who has time off, who leads. Fix one unfair rule this month and watch it ripple into better care and fairer livelihoods.
Herbal healthcare is stronger when everyone can contribute and benefit. Practical actions—transparent pay, flexible training, documented consent, and community-driven policies—make gender equality real, not just a slogan. Join the conversation on Herbal News SA and help shape an herbal sector that works for all.
Phoebe Asiyo: Kenya's Groundbreaking Woman Elder and Champion for Gender Equality
Phoebe Asiyo, a trailblazing leader in Kenya, passed away at 92 after a lifetime devoted to advancing women's rights. From breaking barriers in politics to becoming Kenya's first woman elder, her story continues to inspire future generations striving for equality.
