The male‐female dynamic amongst migrant workers in the Western Cape

Abstract

This paper is a statement of concern about the problems of gender relations in the Western Cape Hostels which are seen as exaggerations of the general problems of gender in the wider South African society. The paper traces the historical reasons for the existence of hostels and draws heavily on the analysis by Elias of the legislative machinery utilized by various administrations to achieve this. An attempt is made to link gender relations to overall power relations in society. The particular class position of the men in the hostels seems to be significant in creating the specific content of the oppression experienced by women in these hostels. The distinctions and the discrimination that hostel dwellers perceive in relation to township dwellers also impacts on their social behavioural patterns. The competition between urbanised women and the rural wives of hostel dwellers also places additional strains on the coping mechanism of these hostel dwellers. There is no pretence that this is anything but a preliminary survey, but it is meant to raise issues for further analysis and study.