Preventing the gendered reproduction of citizenship: the role of social movements in South Africa

Abstract

Social movements have an important role to play in shaping our understanding of the entitlements and human rights related to citizenship. Feminist movements, in particular, actively challenge and reshape gendered perceptions of citizenship generated by the state. The present article focuses on the ‘One in Nine Campaign’, which advocates for, among many things, legal changes in relation to gender-based violence in South Africa. Research into the Campaign reveals the utility in legal mobilisation as a strategy for feminist organising, and opens great potential for changing the way states see the law in relation to gender and women's rights. This, however, also raises fundamental questions about different understandings of citizenship and citizenship rights.

Keywords:

• social movement
• citizenship
• feminist organising
• gender-based violence
• gender identity

Notes

1. Buyisiwe means ‘bring her back’ in isiZulu. For a breakdown of the obstacles faced during Buyisiwe's case, and the role of the OINC, visit: http://www.womensnet.org.za/1-9-campaign-event.

2. Details of the Buyisiwe case are also analysed in POWA and ALN (2010).

3. The Commission for Gender Equality is one of three institutions created under Chapter Nine of the South Africa Constitution designed to support and promote the transition to democracy. The other two are the Public Protector and South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). More information can be found at: http://www.cge.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=71 (last accessed 31 August 2011)

4. For sexual offences statistics as reported by the South African Police Services (SAPS) see: http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/crimestats/2010/categories.htm (last accessed 31 August 2011)

5. For a full list of the 25 member organisations visit: http://www.oneinnine.org.za/38.page

6. The South African Medical Research Council has conducted extensive research and produced a number of policy briefs around sexual violence and rape in South Africa. See: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/reports.htm.

7. All details of membership, focus areas, and leadership can be found on the OINC website www.oneinnine.org.za/

8. This literature is best collected in the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability (Citizenship DRC) at the Institute of Development Studies. For further information about the project and its findings, see www.drc-citizenship.org/

9. See, for example, this petition calling on the South African government to classify ‘corrective rape’ as a hate crime http://www.change.org/petitions/south-africa-take-action-to-stop-corrective-rape

10. The full text of the resolution can be found through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/17/L.9/Rev.1

11. From a collective civil society press release issued after the resolution was passed and available online: http://www.hrw.org/node/99916.

12. See ‘Direct Action’ of OINC, http://www.oneinnine.org.za/30.page