Eradicating the patriarchal state: promoting women’s socio-economic rights and achieving gender equity in the economic participation of women in South Africa (1994-2017)
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Date
2017-07
Authors
Dichabe, Divine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
This dissertation is a desktop research study that centres on the socio-economic
empowerment of women in South Africa. It argues that despite the myriad
legislative, institutional and administrative interventions adopted in South Africa
since 1994, patriarchy still persists undermining and threatening the welfare and
advancement of women in the country. In the study’s theoretical framework, it
highlights patriarchy as the root of gender inequality from a theoretical point of
view to a practical viewpoint while revealing the mother of patriarchy as being
social institutions, e.g. the family, the school and the religious institutions. In
pointing out socio-economic factors that affect gender equality, the following are
deliberated on: Poverty and inequality; education; access to the labour market
and economic participation; access to credit, land and property and the impact
violence has on the participation of women in the economy. A discussion on
different feminist traditions considers how the above-mentioned factors contribute
to the disadvantaged position women find themselves in and narrows them all
down to Colonial Feminism as the most applicable theory to be applied in South
Africa.
In the discussions, various elements are brought into play, i.e. historical and
incumbent socio-cultural dynamics that influences the socio-economic
empowerment of women. This study interrogates the roles of the Commission on
Gender Equality as a section 9 institution of the Constitution (1996) and the
Department of Women as an administrative body set out by the president to assist
in fulfilling South African targets as far as its international commitments to
achieving gender equality. It also acknowledges the influence that civil society
has on the said institutions put in place in raising awareness and the application
of women’s rights as set out in the Constitution. Through this narrative, the author
hopes to liberate women out of their socio-economic disadvantages. This is on
the premise that when women are liberated, they are able to make informed and
progressive decisions striving for equity so that equality can be a reality.
Description
Keywords
Women's rights, Feminism, Women in economic development, Gender identity, Dissertation (MGT (Governance and Political Transformation))--University of the Free State, 2017