A feminist response to the food crisis in contemporary South Africa

abstract

Women’s responses to the food crisis in contemporary South Africa raise important questions for feminism. The realisation of the ’right to sufficient food’ enshrined in the post-apartheid constitution is central to achieving an active, gendered citizenship. However grassroots mobilisation is necessary to give such justiciable socio-economic rights substantive content. As part of that struggle women are driving alternatives to the neo-liberal food regime, developing different forms of power, new forms of organisation and counter narratives of ‘food justice’ and ‘food sovereignty’. However they are generally not doing so in the name of ‘feminism’ although women’s involvement in food production, procurement and preparation is a fundamental feminist issue. The article explores why this is the case and concludes by asking whether a ‘transformative feminism’ could emerge and give strength and coherence to these anti-hegemonic struggles to realise the ‘right to sufficient food’ and simultaneously lead to the re-energising of feminist politics.

keywords:

• food sovereignty
• food crisis
• feminism
• hunger
• transformation

Acknowledgement

My thanks to great feminist friends, Khayaat Fakier, co-organiser of the Feminist Table and to Anthea Metcalfe for help and support.

Notes

1. This article is based on informal conversations, key informant interviews by the author during 2014 and 2015 and participation in a number of workshops and conferences such as: The Feminist Table, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; The Rural Women Feminist School, Johannesburg, 2013; The Cost of Hunger workshop, Oxfam, Johannesburg, 2014; Co-operative Policy and Alternatives Centre (COPAC) Right to Food Dialogues, 2013 and 2014; the Tribunal on Hunger and Landlessness, Johannesburg, 2015; numerous Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) workshops on food (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015); Section 27 workshops, 2013; the African Centre for Biosafety, National Right to Food Dialogue, Cape Town, 2014; Action Aid Workshop, Johannesburg, 2014; Department of Environmental Affairs National Climate Change Dialogue, Johannesburg. 2014; the Food Sovereignty Campaign Assembly, Johannesburg, 2015; the Tribunal on Hunger and Landlessness, Johannesburg, 2015.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacklyn Cock

JACKLYN COCK is a professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and an honorary research professor in the Society, Work and Development (SWOP) Institute. She has written extensively on militarization, gender and environmentalism in southern Africa. Her best known book is Maids and Madams. A Study in the Politics of Exploitation (Johannesburg: Ravan Press, 1981). Her latest book is The War Against Ourselves. Nature, Power and Justice (Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2007). She considers herself an ‘eco-feminist socialist’.