Who's Afraid of Feminism? South African Democracy at 20: An introduction

abstract

This is the 100^th issue of this journal since the first Agenda appeared in 1987. It coincides with the celebration of 20 years of democracy, a moment in which there is national reflection on the achievements and setbacks on the path to a more just and equal society. In this issue we look at the past 20 years through the lens of feminism, reminding ourselves of the dreams and strategies of women's movements in the country and analysing how far we have come.

keywords:

• gender
• feminism
• substantive equality
• representation
• women's movements

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Gouws

AMANDA GOUWS is Professor of Political Science at the University of Stellenbosch. Her specialisation is South African politics and gender politics. She is also a feminist activist. Her research focuses on women and citizenship, the national gender machinery and representation. She is the editor of (Un)Thinking Citizenship: Feminist Debates in Contemporary South Africa (UK: Ashgate and Cape Town: Juta, 2005). A new book co-edited with Daiva Stasiulis, titled Gender and Multiculturalism: North/South Perspectives, published by Routledge, will appear later in 2014. She was a Commissioner for the South African Commission on Gender Equality. Email: [email protected]

Shireen Hassim

SHIREEN HASSIM is Professor of Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her most recent book is The ANC Women's League: Sex, Gender and Politics, Jacana 2014. Email: [email protected]