Economic policy-making and gender in 21st-century South Africa

This chapter provides a reflection of economic policy-making and its effect on gender disparities through a Marxist and feminist economics lens in the 21st century. Its aim is to interrogate the economic position of African women by evaluating and critiquing economic policies that have informed the majority of 21st-century economic issues in South Africa. Marxist feminist theory is an important tool in helping us to arrive at a conclusion. It has historically allowed feminist economists and heterodox economists an alternative look at where gender and economics intersect. The essay looks at how the financialization and Structural Adjustment programmes (SAPs) in South Africa have led to the economic policy-making being shaped by a neo-liberal ethos and how that has had a negative impact on the livelihood of African women.