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The impact of women’s movements’ activism experiences on gender transformation policies in democratic South Africa

Author(s): Gabi Mkhize, Nwabisa Mgcotyelwa-Ntoni

In: Agenda, Vol 33, No 2, 2019, pp. 9-21

The authors argue that the activism of women’s movements has helped achieve South African government policies designed to promote women’s equality (for example in employment) and women’s empowerment. They draw on a 2017 qualitative study of leading women in the government to illustrate this link. They recognize, however, that there are still social and psychological barriers within government impeding women with activist experience from achieving radical outcomes, and that ‘gendered discourse still disadvantages women across racial identities, gender orientations and (dis)abilities’.