One Woman One Vote--The Gender Politics of South African Elections.

One Woman One Vote--The Gender Politics of South African Elections

Edited by Glenda Fick, Sheila Meintjies, Mary Simons

"We shall teach the men that they cannot hope to liberate themselves from the evils of discrimination and prejudice as long as they fail to extend to women complete and unqualified equality in law and in practice."--From the 1994 Women's Charter of the Federation of South African women.

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When South Africa went to the polls in 1994 in the country's first post-apartheid election, 109 women were elected to Parliament. This number--27% of elected representatives--brought the fledgling democracy in line with many of the major democracies of the world.

But what do the numbers really mean to the majority of ordinary women, a significant number of whom are poor? This is one issue explored in this book, which brings together two themes--the nature of the struggle of women in liberation politics and a gender analysis of electoral politics in South Africa.

Using the lessons of the past, the nine contributors offer options for the future, suggesting ways in which the impetus of the 'miracle' of 1994 can be maintained and used to enhance women's participation in public life and the political process and to empower and improve the lot of all South Africa's women.

Electoral Institute of Southern Africa 2002, Johannesburg 2002