Piecing the puzzle : the development of feminist identity

[摘要] The question addressed in this thesis was how women developed a feminist identityaround other markers of identity, such as race, gender, motherhood, etc. and in the faceof the negative connotations of the feminist label and what implications this hold forfeminist solidarity. This question arose out of a careful study of current literature, both oninternational and local levels, concerning perceived division and problems within thefeminist movement. The research was conducted in a quantitative and qualitative manneradministering questionnaires to women electronically via e-mail and doing interviews toexplore certain more sensitive issues. The criteria for the drawing of the sample were thatwomen must have some form of feminist consciousness or identity. To satisfy thesecriteria the sample was drawn form the Women's Forum at the University of Stellenbosch,from the Gender Education and Training network (GETNET) and the Social ChangeAssistance Trust (SCAT), both gender training organizations and from the ProvincialAdministration of the Western Cape where women have been through a gender trainingprogramme. The completed questionnaires were statistically analysed through using TheStatistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).Three broad themes emerged as the main findings in this thesis. First it became clear thatthe uncritical application of foreign measuring instruments may lead to falserepresentation in the South African context, underlining the importance of situational andcontextual specifity in research. Second, the propagated divisive power of race withinfeminism was not supported by the findings in this thesis. On the contrary, the profile ofthe sample is one of women with well-integrated racial identities and very little racialantagonism. Third it became apparent that women do support the values of feminism, butare unwilling to take a feminist label, implying perceived structural and ideologicalproblems within the feminist movement.The feminist movement needs to redefine their theoretical base, accessibility and theirapproach to outcomes-based action. If the movement fails to realize the above aims theyrun a serious risk of disintegration as a political interest group working for theimprovement of the lives of women. In order to accomplish the challenges mentionedabove the feminist movement must first start with the specific circumstances of the lives ofwomen and use that as a base for theory, policy and strategy to change the lives of women and second align themselves with grassroots movements in order to establish tiesto a constituency of women they have lost touch with.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University