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Date Added to
Site: 22nd December 2003 |
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Short Summary
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| Title |
Gender and Citizenship: Learning from South
Africa? |
| Author |
McEwan, C. |
| Publication
Date |
April 2001 |
| Publisher |
Agenda Feminist Publishing |
| Volume |
Agenda |
| Series |
47 |
| Donor |
Hivos |
| Short
Summary |
In what ways does political transformation mean
a change in meanings and practice of citizenship - in the
relationships between individuals and the state? This paper
discusses the experiences of women, particularly black women, of
citizenship in South Africa, where the new administration promised a
new politics based on civil society and universal citizenship. It
firstly discusses spaces and meanings of citizenship, arguing that
the South African context can show how formal citizenship is shaped
by informal power structures and social roles and therefore requires
the transformation of power structures and civil society activism.
It then goes on to describe how structural economic and social
inequalities need to be addressed in order for women to achieve
citizenship and how this will be mediated by local, national and
global economic factors. Local government is identified as a
possible site in which to assess gender equality measures since it
is currently introducing new structures in order to become more
participatory and responsive. Finally the paper discusses how issues
of difference, particularly relevant to this context, can be
addressed through measures such as positive action aimed at groups
rather than individuals. The paper argues for notions of citizenship
that acknowledge existing African understandings of human
development and calls for research that will destabilise traditional
male, western notions of citizenship.
For a copy of this
publication, please contact: subs@agenda.org.za, Telephone: +27 31
304 7001/2/3, Fax : +27 31 304 7018,
http://http://www.agenda.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=123
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