Apartheid imposed strict restrictions that hindered the wellbeing of South African women. Black women were often left for domestic occupations in white neighborhoods or resort to low wage earning jobs at industrial plants. Various movements such as the Women’s League of the African National Congress (ANC) rose in order to protest against apartheid restrictions and discriminatory legislation in the 1950s. When South Africa’s authoritative regime was approaching its end in the 1990s, the ANC proposed new legislation that a third of political appointments would be allotted to women. Unfortunately, twenty years later, African women are still faced with the same marginal disparities in accessing education, employment, and health care despite South Africa’s progressive strides into civil society. This study examines the development of South African women in the nation’s new “democratic” era.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE STUDY
The Problem and Its Setting
Statement of Problem
Research Questions
Terminology
Methodology
Review of Literature
Significance of the Study
Research Limitations
2. FINDINGS
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SECTION 1: THE STUDY
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Statement of the Problem
This research examines political, economic, and cultural impact of South African women’s movements. The study will explore the following questions: (1) Is the South African Parliament truly gender-sensitive in its transition to a fully-fledged democracy?; (2) Where are women in the formal and informal economy relative to men?; (3) Which cultural impediments hinder the South Africa’s transition to civil society?
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Is the South African Parliament truly gender-sensitive in its conversion to a fully-fledged democracy?
This question analyzes the political structure of the country on party and policy boundaries.
- Are interests of the African
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