South African social media feeds have been awash in purple this week, and there's a powerful reason why. Thousands are changing their profile pictures to purple in solidarity with victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. This visual movement, spearheaded by organisations like Women For Change, aims to raise awareness and demand action against this ongoing crisis.
Why Purple?
Purple represents strength, justice, and remembrance for those lost to femicide. It's a way for individuals to visually demonstrate their support and declare "enough is enough."
How to Get Involved: Go Purple!
Here's how you can join the movement and show your support:
- Use the Official Image: Women For Change is sharing a specific purple image on their Facebook page. Save it and use it as your profile picture for a unified message.
- Purple Overlay with Canva: Want to personalize it? Use Canva to add a purple tint to your existing profile picture. Simply upload your photo, adjust the colour settings to add purple tones, and save.
Beyond Profile Pictures: #WomenForChange and the National Shutdown
The purple profile picture campaign is just one part of a larger effort by Women For Change. The organisation is also calling for a national shutdown on 21 November, the day before the G20 Summit, urging women to abstain from all paid and unpaid work to highlight the economic and social impact of their absence. They are also encouraging people to wear black and participate in a 15-minute standstill at 12pm to honour the victims of GBV.
Men Must Join the Fight
Women for Change emphasizes the critical role men must play in combating GBV. They urge men to become allies, holding their peers accountable and actively participating in the conversation. Merlize Jogiat, operations and activism coordinator for WFC, stressed that unified approach was essential to address the violence.
By turning our profile pictures purple and participating in these initiatives, we can amplify the message that gender-based violence must end. Let's stand together with the victims and demand a safer future for all.