South African Women's Apartheid and Post-Apartheid Struggles:1980-2014

South African women were a dynamic anti-apartheid force, challenging patriarchy and all axes of oppression. In this book national concerns are covered with a focus on Western Cape grassroots women's structures. Though many initially organised as mothers, women transformed motherhood into empowering roles. This book sketches a pivotal time: 1980s states of emergency, negotiations ending apartheid and first twenty years of the new SA. Using interviews and reports, Gertrude shares women's trials and triumphs over this 35-year period. Through tracing women's political agency and resistance, it asserts that women profoundly contributed to the New SA. Post-94, new challenges of implementing progressive gender-sensitive policies abound. Currently many women are in government and decision-making positions. To what extent representation of women has constructively contributed to women's attaining citizenship, eradicating patriarchy, poverty and violence against women is evaluated. After 20 years of freedom in SA, despite progress, the struggle continues for women's comprehensive citizenship.

Autorentext

South African Black feminist Gertrude Fester participated in anti-apartheid women's struggles and continues working for social justice. As many South Africans, she went from political prison to parliament. A writer and passionate about transformation, she taught at universities globally, most recently at Rwandan Gender Center. She has a PhD (LSE)