NEOLIBERALISM, WOMEN AND DEMOCRACY

At a glance it would seem that Southern

Africa is a relatively democratic parliamentary democracy has been strengthened. However, the question arises that has the status and position of women in the sub-region improved?

Peace has been brought to Angola. Mozambique is pursuing its integration into the ‘world economy’. For the rest of Southern Africa, parliamentary democracy is seemingly alive and well. The African Union’s Parliament was set up in Midrand, South Africa. Civil society was able to stop the presidents in Malawi and Zambia from changing their constitutions in an attempt to seek undemocratic ‘third terms’ in office. In Namibia, president Nujoma stepped down and in South Africa, as we celebrate 10 years of democracy, we are assured that President Thabo Mbeki will not extend his tenure. Only Zimbabwe and Swaziland remain with leaders who refuse to respect democratic rule.

Adopting neoliberal policies Democracy in Southern Africa has been accompanied by the implementation of neoliberal policies by governments. While this has had a devastating effect on the people of Southern Africa, women have been particularly affected given their general status in society. In almost all the Southern African countries, World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund

(IMF) policies are being implemented, whether self-imposed as in the case of South Africa’s Growth and Economic and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy, or through direct agreement or imposition. These policies – including privatisation, deregulation, trade liberalisation and state budget cuts – have come to be known as neoliberalism. The impact of these policies have been devastating for working people in the region, resulting in widespread impoverishment, unemployment and a drastic decline in living standards.

Over the past 20 years whatever post- independence gains had been made in the area of education and social services, have now been whittled away as states have cut their budgets under instruction from the WB and IMF. In Zambia almost everything has been privatised with only three out of 287 public and parastatal bodies in public hands. Workers in Zambia are now struggling to keep energy public. For working people the bills have increased for education and health, making these increasingly inaccessible. In Malawi, civil servants earn US$15 per month, and they are the lucky ones to be employed.

Women in many of these societies bear an inordinate burden for survival and are increasingly being drawn into work traditionally done by men. This is also linked to the changing forms of labour patterns, in particular the growth of casual labour, and women being paid less for similar work. About

60 percent of the informal sector in Southern Africa is made up of women. In addition, women are increasingly taking on the burden of being carers because of the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on the sub-region.

Patriarchy

Throughout Southern Africa (and Africa) patriarchy or male dominance still occurs in all spheres of life. Patriarchy has preceded capitalism in indigenous societies as expressed through the chief, the father and the son. Precolonial societies were not the

‘democractic dream’ that is often hankered about. Often precolonial societies were hierachical and women were expected to ‘know their place’, their traditions and were subordinate to men.

This continued under colonialism and women remained minors, unable to own land or any other form of property. They neither had the right to divorce or the freedom of movement. (This is not to say that men could move freely. In South Africa for example, people were confined to the reserves unless they had the necessary passes linked to work. Often men substituted doing women’s work). There were many reasons for this, including controlling women as well as their reproduction. Even chiefs were co-opted to keep women subordinate.

Women were not allowed gender equality.

Their movement was controlled and they were not allowed to look for work without permission. In this way the colonisers controlled the labour force as well as the supply of labour. In many instances domestic work for men, and women’s positions in traditional societies did the settlers was maintained. This oppression resulted in many women running away to the cities in search of work and relative freedom, even as prostitutes.

Post independence

After independence many women got the right to vote. With independence many of the nationalist governments such as Zambia and Zimbabwe pursued social policies. Schools were opened and education became generally more accessible together with healthcare. This gave many women access to education and literacy. Some women were able to take up professional training, even if this was in gender-biased professions such as nursing and teaching. This was prevalent throughout Southern Africa. In addition, basic services such as water and healthcare were provided and this increased the living standards of working women (and men) for a time.

Neoliberalism

Though the region is experiencing its highest numbers of women in parliament, the living standards of people in sub-Saharan Africa, and Southern Africa has declined significantly. This has particularly affected women.

This is not surprising as during the past 20 years women have borne the burden and the impact of the structural adjustment programmes implemented in their countries. Exorbitant school fees have meant that families often make choices to drop the girlchild out of school, allowing boys to continue in the belief that they will become the ‘breadwinners’. However, it is single women who are often the breadwinners in most families.

Under neoliberalism, the onslaught on working people has been relentless. The state has shed jobs as services have been privatised. Food security is undermined. The effects of all this have been felt more by women who must still care for families.

Such is the plight of women under neoliberalism.

By Maria Van Driel