The bureaucratisation of gender mainstreaming and the role of political will: a case study of the department of public service and administration in South Africa
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Date
2019
Authors
Ramparsad, Nitasha
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Abstract
This study is situated in the field of Gender Studies. The study investigates the South African
State’s (in) ability to effectively mainstream gender as a strategy for gender equality. Despite
having ratified several pieces of local, regional and international legislation, the gender
agenda seems to be elusive when assessing the implementation of policy for gender
equality. The major theoretical question being addressed is “What are the factors that enable
and/or constrain the implementation of gender equality in countries that have formally
committed to this goal?”
The Department of Public Service and Administration has been selected as the case study
for this research, as this Ministry is allocated the responsibility for the management of policy
in State departments in South Africa. Despite the official support expressed by the State in
ratifying major legislation for example, the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention for
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Dunker (2005) believes that
the “gender wave has passed”. The study builds on the work of authors such as Hassim,
Moser, Cornwall, Kabeer, Gouws and Rao et al. However, this larger body of research does
not drill down into the barriers the State faces, but rather generalises findings in this area.
This study offers unique insight into the barriers faced in the State’s implementation of
gender equality legislation. This is done by assessing the role of political will, resourcing and
constructing an enabling environment as major influences for the success of Gender
Mainstreaming within the South African State. The study analyses the bureaucratisation of
gender mainstreaming at the Department of Public Service and Administration and reveals
how this allows for the disruption of initiatives and masks the failings of the driver for gender
equality, namely political will. The study reflects on political will from outside as well as from
within the Department. Through the case study, the powerful role of political will in the
success of gender mainstreaming for gender equality is demonstrated
Description
Department of Politics
Faculty of Humanities
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Citation
Ramparsad, Nitasha (2019) The bureaucratisation of gender mainstreaming and the role of political will:a case study of the Department of Public Service and Administration in South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/28341>