| Summary: | Thesis (MA (Political Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2005. === The question addressed in this thesis was how women developed a feminist identity
around other markers of identity, such as race, gender, motherhood, etc. and in the face
of the negative connotations of the feminist label and what implications this hold for
feminist solidarity. This question arose out of a careful study of current literature, both on
international and local levels, concerning perceived division and problems within the
feminist movement. The research was conducted in a quantitative and qualitative manner
administering questionnaires to women electronically via e-mail and doing interviews to
explore certain more sensitive issues. The criteria for the drawing of the sample were that
women must have some form of feminist consciousness or identity. To satisfy these
criteria the sample was drawn form the Women’s Forum at the University of Stellenbosch,
from the Gender Education and Training network (GETNET) and the Social Change
Assistance Trust (SCAT), both gender training organizations and from the Provincial
Administration of the Western Cape where women have been through a gender training
programme. The completed questionnaires were statistically analysed through using The
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Three broad themes emerged as the main findings in this thesis. First it became clear that
the uncritical application of foreign measuring instruments may lead to false
representation in the South African context, underlining the importance of situational and
contextual specifity in research. Second, the propagated divisive power of race within
feminism was not supported by the findings in this thesis. On the contrary, the profile of
the sample is one of women with well-integrated racial identities and very little racial
antagonism. Third it became apparent that women do support the values of feminism, but
are unwilling to take a feminist label, implying perceived structural and ideological
problems within the feminist movement.
The feminist movement needs to redefine their theoretical base, accessibility and their
approach to outcomes-based action. If the movement fails to realize the above aims they
run a serious risk of disintegration as a political interest group working for the
improvement of the lives of women. In order to accomplish the challenges mentioned
above the feminist movement must first start with the specific circumstances of the lives of
women and use that as a base for theory, policy and strategy to change the lives of women and second align themselves with grassroots movements in order to establish ties
to a constituency of women they have lost touch with.
|
|---|
