Sociolinguistic Perspectives on Derogatory Indigenous Proverbs: A Case Study of the Vhavenḓa Community in Vuwani

This study examines how Vuwani women and men perceive the use of derogatory Tshivenḓa proverb, with a focus on gender disparities. Women in Vuwani are often degraded in proverbs, while men are portrayed more favorably. Given the prominence of gender-based violence in current affairs, it is crucial to revisit the use of derogatory proverbs, particularly those directed at women. The main aim is to educate the next generation, particularly young boys in the community of Vuwani, to shy away from using derogatory proverb when referring to women. Women form part of a big community in Vuwani, and thus, they are important, and they should be treated equally to men. A qualitative approach was adopted to better understand the phenomenon of examing how Vuwani women and men perceive the use of derogatory Tshivenḓa proverbs. The study purposively selected 18 participants from Vuwani. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. In addition, the data was analysed thematically. The study is grounded in masculinity theory. The results highlight how male dominance has historically been perpetuated by proverbs. Moreover, it was discovered that Vhavenḓa women are the victims of gender-based violence, which they attribute to the usage of derogatory proverbs towards them. Among the Vuwani community, which comprises members of the Vhavenḓa culture, the study revealed that masculinity is associated with greater freedom of behaviour, as men are not subjected to the same negative labelling as women. The study recommends a reevaluation of Tshivenḓa derogatory proverbs.