Evaluating women empowerment through an examination of the Gender Equality Bill .
Date
2015
Authors
De Klerk., Joan
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Abstract
The research study seeks to evaluate the women empowerment through an
examination of the Gender Equality Bill and to ascertain whether it would enhance,
complement and complete existing legislation relating to gender equality. It seeks to
contribute to the policy making process from a feminist perspective since the
fundamental models for policy analysis remain gender neutral. Feminist viewpoints
generally suggest numerous methods of strategizing for changing the position of women
in society. Feminist have often argued that mainstream policy making does not
recognize gender bias in substantive policy because the models and processes
advanced to describe and analyse are often gendered. The Gender Equality Bill entails
a range of themes that are located in feminist theories. The purpose of the study is to
examine these theories and benchmark policy processes that could be aspired to in
achieving gender equality. A qualitative approach structural gaps in existing legislation
and determine whether there was a need for new legislation. The Bill is assessed
against five policy elements which include clarity of objectives, those who benefits are
intended for; what eligibility rules are in place; financing methods and interaction with
the policy elements. The study argues that the Gender Equality Bill fails to identify
weaknesses in the existing legislative framework and provide a best solution for the
policy problem relating to cost, equity and feasibility in employing strategies that
challenge experiences relating achieving gender equality. The Bill would, therefore
would not have the ability to enhance, complement and complete the existing
legislation.
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Keywords
Women's rights,Sex discrimination against women,Equality-- South Africa