New Struggles, New Strategies: Emerging Patterns of Women's Political Participation in the South African Parliament

Abstract

This article examines the processes of political learning for women activists-turned-parliamentarians within South Africa's first democratically elected parliament. Crossing the boundary into formal political roles has transformed women's notions of themselves as political actors and altered the ways they participate in the politics. This article explores this transformation as well as how these women are re-constructing their gender identity. Women legislators vary from a complete acceptance of women's issues to a total avoidance of any association with gender politics. The most significant conclusion of this study is that the women in parliament who most clearly resemble the majority of South African population in terms of educational, economic, racial, and occupational backgrounds are also the most likely to be alienated from the processes of policy-making and the most likely to leave parliament in order to return to grassroots activism.