Vroulike Bemagtiging; The Fight for Gender Equality in South Africa

Throughout history, women have had to fight for the rights to their body, to their land, and to their own decisions, such

as to vote. Many females are lucky enough to live in a time and place where there have been enough advancements that women

are safe and are free to make their own choices, however in South Africa, this is not the case for rural women. Although the

South African constitution seems to have been one of the most progressive documents for women’s rights in Africa, there is little

evidence that anything has changed since past years, and there is no way of telling if the claims made in the constitution have

been carried out to the most remote parts of the country.

The Republic of South Africa’s constitution, which was made in 1996, states that every citizen has the right to things

such as life, property, the ability to vote, and education. However, many women living in rural parts of the country are unaware of

these rights they are entitled to and therefore do not realize that they may want them.

The traditional leaders in towns have a dangerous amount of power over not only the women, but everyone in their

community and may even be making decisions for them in the courtroom (Mkhize). This is not seen as having too much

influence and unchecked power; it is instead perceived as following customary traditions. These “traditions” seem to have no end

when a “widow herself was inherited by her dead husband’s brother” (Women). Despite the constitution’s protection of women,

due to customary law in many villages, there is control from men solely (Turley). Although this is an example of when women

aren’t given their full rights, there have been instances where they have fought for and won in these instances.

Many women, especially from large cities in South Africa, have realized the rights that other females in their county

lack, and are working hard to educate and protest. For example, in 2012, thirty protesters stopped a Women’s Day March to hold

up a banner that read “No Cause for Celebration.” They believe that since there is still progress to be made, they should not

celebrate until women have gained respect as well as rights (Van Allen). Other women, such as Sithuthukile Mkhize, have been

going to rural towns and provinces in South Africa informing and educating women about their rights, and how they can fight for

them (Mkhize).

So this leads to the question of why were men given this control in the first place? In other countries, such as Nigeria,

women are actually more dominant, leading political parties and standing up against colonial rulers (Walter).  In conclusion, the

rights of women in South Africa still has much progress to make before men and women are treated as equals, especially in small

towns and villages.

Works Cited:

Mkhize, Sithuthukile. “A Victory Over Second-Class Justice in South Africa.” Open Society

Foundations, 7 May 2014.

Turley, Melissa. “South Africa: Law of the Land.” Pulitzer Center, Pulitzer Center, 5 Feb. 2019.

Van Allen, J. (2015). What are Women's Rights Good for? Contesting and Negotiating Gender

Cultures in Southern Africa. African Studies Review, Doi. Accessed Mar 18, 2019.

Walter, Lynn. "Women's Movements." International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family, edited

by James J. Ponzetti, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2003, pp. 1714-1720. Global Issues in Context, Accessed 14 Mar. 2019.

"Women." New Encyclopedia of Africa, edited by John Middleton and Joseph C. Miller, 2nd ed.,

vol. 5, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008, pp. 237-266. Global Issues in Context, Accessed 21 Mar. 2019.