💜Turning Timelines Purple: The Movement Against GBV that Won’t Be Ignored💜

 

I know lately everyone’s been talking about this purple movement going around💜 , and if you’ve been seeing purple all over your feed… no, you’re not imagining it. It’s not a trend, it’s a cry. A reminder that South Africa is tired. That we are tired. That women are tired.

We wear purple now for GBV because too many of us have stories that start with “I almost” or “she didn’t make it.” Too many names have become hashtags, too many candles have burned for the same reason. And I don’t know about you , but it’s starting to feel like we’ve been screaming for years and nobody’s listening.

💜 WHY PURPLE THOUGH?

Purple stands for justice, strength and remembrance. It’s a reminder that behind every stat, there’s a real person  and someone’s friend, sister, daughter. It’s not just a pretty colour for awareness but it’s a whole statement. A big “we’re done being silent” kind of energy.

Every single day, another woman is hurt, another family breaks, another dream ends early. Fifteen women a day .. just think about that. 

And yet, the world moves like it’s normal. Like violence against women is just part of the background noise of life. We talk about GBV, we post, we march, we cry  but still, it keeps happening. That’s why the purple movement hit different. It’s not just a campaign, it’s a stand. It’s South Africa saying, “No more pretending like we’re okay.

 

PURPLE FOR JUSTICE!💜

Purple isn’t just a colour. It’s pain. It’s strength. It’s the bruises we’ve seen, the tears we’ve wiped, and the power we’ve found in standing back up.

It’s our way of saying, “We’re here. We matter. And we’re not backing down.” And it’s not just for women,  it’s for every person who’s ever said, “That could’ve been me,” or “I wish I spoke up.” Because this fight isn’t only ours. It’s for the boys, the men, the communities, everyone who refuses to stay silent while women are dying. I think what makes this movement different is that it’s not about looking strong, it’s about being tired but still showing up. It’s women, men, and everyone saying, “We’re done watching this happen.”

You know, GBV isn’t something you only see on the news. It’s in your neighbourhood. It’s your friend who stopped talking as much. It’s that girl who laughs a little too hard to hide her pain. It’s in the way we’re always told to “be careful” instead of being told “you deserve to feel safe.”

We grew up being told, “Don’t walk alone,” “Don’t wear this,” “Be careful.” But why should we be the ones living in fear while others keep their silence?

We deserve to be safe.

We deserve to live.

We deserve peace not warnings.

STANDING TOGETHER AS ONE

This movement is reminding all of us that silence won’t save us. Speaking up will. Standing together will. Even if it’s just wearing purple, talking about it with your friends, posting about it, joining the 15-minute standstill thats all that counts.

You don’t have to be an activist to care. You just have to feel something. And I know you do, We all do. 💜 GBV isn’t something we watch anymore. It’s something we fight. And maybe… just maybe, this time, purple will mean change.

So wear your purple. Talk about it. Don’t let it fade away after the day ends. Because real change starts when we keep the conversation alive.To every woman reading this, I see you. I feel you. You’re not alone in this. And to every man reading this, we need you too. Not to speak for us, but to stand with us.

Let’s turn the whole country purple if we have to until we live in a world where our stories don’t end in hashtags. This isn’t just another “social media movement.” This is a reminder that we are powerful together. We’re tired of crying, tired of hashtags, tired of excuses.

So yeah go purple. Post it, wear it, talk about it, whatever feels right for you. Just make sure your silence isn’t louder than your voice.

Because purple isn’t just a colour. It’s our way of saying: You can’t ignore us anymore. 💜