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)

[摘要] This dissertation is a desktop research study that centres on the socio-economicempowerment of women in South Africa. It argues that despite the myriadlegislative, institutional and administrative interventions adopted in South Africasince 1994, patriarchy still persists undermining and threatening the welfare andadvancement of women in the country. In the study's theoretical framework, ithighlights patriarchy as the root of gender inequality from a theoretical point ofview to a practical viewpoint while revealing the mother of patriarchy as beingsocial institutions, e.g. the family, the school and the religious institutions. Inpointing out socio-economic factors that affect gender equality, the following aredeliberated on: Poverty and inequality; education; access to the labour marketand economic participation; access to credit, land and property and the impactviolence has on the participation of women in the economy. A discussion ondifferent feminist traditions considers how the above-mentioned factors contributeto the disadvantaged position women find themselves in and narrows them alldown to Colonial Feminism as the most applicable theory to be applied in SouthAfrica.In the discussions, various elements are brought into play, i.e. historical andincumbent socio-cultural dynamics that influences the socio-economicempowerment of women. This study interrogates the roles of the Commission onGender Equality as a section 9 institution of the Constitution (1996) and theDepartment of Women as an administrative body set out by the president to assistin fulfilling South African targets as far as its international commitments toachieving gender equality. It also acknowledges the influence that civil societyhas on the said institutions put in place in raising awareness and the applicationof women's rights as set out in the Constitution. Through this narrative, the authorhopes to liberate women out of their socio-economic disadvantages. This is onthe premise that when women are liberated, they are able to make informed andprogressive decisions striving for equity so that equality can be a reality.

[发布机构] University of the Free State