[2] Gender discrimination in South Africa was based on traditional communal practices, where women were denied rights such as land ownership, custody of their children, and leadership positions.
Non-discrimination was a key aspect of South Africa's first democratically elected government in 1994, which officially adopted a “gender equality” stance on decreasing discrimination.
Due to restrictive laws in the 1930s, black women were forced to use identity cards, regarded as passbooks, to move around the country, which limited their movement into cities and towns.
Lots of women were unable to find jobs in urban areas, limiting them to brewing beer, being nannies, and doing casual work on farms owned by whites.
[2] Apartheid denied African women the right to travel freely to seek gainful employment, which indirectly locked them in poverty without an escape route.
Employers often take advantage of women by paying them lesser wages than their male counterparts, thereby violating the legal act put in place to protect worker rights.
In the post-apartheid era of South Africa, multiple laws and acts were put in place to reduce gender discrimination.
The Labor Act of 1995 includes a Code of Good Conduct that compels workplaces to have formal sexual harassment policies in place.
Section 9(3) forbids discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, ethnicity, or culture.
As domestic violence has been an issue for all women, this establishes that within the domain of a home or family, it is subject to public policy as well.
[8] Education is an important factor in breaking the cycle of poverty and unemployment in South Africa, especially for girls from struggling townships.
Girls in South Africa may face challenges in feeling safe at school due to issues such as bullying, corporal punishment, and gender violence.
One-third of rapes were perpetrated by schoolteachers, which creates a difficult process for these girls to make reports and claims to the police.
There is a disparity in attendance between males and females in education in South Africa, which may contribute to the cycle of unemployment and poverty for women.
In recent legislative efforts, measures have been put in place to try and improve the number of girls in education by trying to break the cycle.
Poverty is a contributing factor to the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, as it can lead women to engage in prostitution for survival.
[13] The effects of poverty and sexual health such as HIV and aids can lead to further economic hardship for women in South Africa.
In any case, it was estimated that around one-third of women had experienced intimate partner violence in the past 12 months, a level that is similar across all age groups.
[16] Arranged marriages in South Africa may involve underage brides due to financial reasons within the family.
Women who protested Apartheid joined the Congress Alliance, a political coalition that fought institutional racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 to the 1990s.
Issues discussed in the document were the demand for improved health care, education, and equal pay and rights.
"[19] This statement from the document highlights that women wanted the option to move freely without the need for an identity card or approval from their husbands.
The Federation of South African Women joined with the same beliefs, common interests, and a strong political attitude in a bid to make genuine change and stop (apartheid) the minority of white settlers making economic and political decisions for South African women.
The Women's March 1956, organized by FEDSAW, was one of the first public protests fighting against apartheid and the abolishment of the Pass Laws.
[20] Women across the country marched and protested for equal pay, rights, education, and opportunities they had been withheld by the government.
South African women were applauded for their bravery as they risked arrests and detention for taking part in the movement.
This song highlights the pride these women had in abolishing the abusive laws against them and fighting for equality and a better standard of living.
[24] August 9 is a significant day as it shows the incredible courage the women had when protesting against passing laws, racial segregation, and inequality that were eliminated in South Africa.
Even South Africa's political changes and laws, such as the Bill of Rights, have had a great impact on the women in the country.
Another huge issue in South Africa is the trafficking of women and pseudo-cultural practices that allow child marriages.