The Struggle for Women’s Rights in South Africa

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa has been lauded for its firm commitment to ensuring equality between women and men. The struggle for women’s rights in South Africa is twofold in that it is a struggle against both gender inequality and racial inequality. C. Albertyn illustrates how race and class divisions have contributed to differentially shaping the political consciousness of women in South Africa. The 1950s heralded the emergence of a new women’s movement as South African women became politically active in the oppressed communities. An important aspect of the African National Congress policy statement was its call for women to take the lead in creating a non-sexist South Africa and to initiate a national debate for a Charter of Women’s Rights to elaborate and reinforce the new constitution. The Women’s National Coalition was thus the first broadly based organization in South Africa that was committed to addressing the equality of women with men.