Review of the recent debates on feminist research in South Africa

Charmaine Helena Iwu Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of the Western Cape South Africa charmaine.iwu@gmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Introduction Feminist research is a term which has not been largely investigated. Many people presume it just to be about women but they do not fully comprehend the dynamics around it. Men, especially in certain cultures and traditions do not invite feminism into their living environment. Womens liberation is taboo in some societies which created discrimination to varying degrees. Females have been marginalised since the dawn of time and it is still prevalent today in the 21st century. South Africa as a democracy affords women the opportunity to enjoy the same rights as men albeit it appears to be making slow progress in this regard. Positive change towards this gender is inadequate since there is still a tremendous amount of prejudice, crime and abuse towards women. The plight, opinions and experiences of women have been lost in translation. Government was aware of the denials women encountered in the past as the disadvantaged group and allowed them to be part of economic and employment opportunities as stated in the Employment Equity Act (No. 55 of 1998). Women from all demographics are contributors to the economy and many of them are sole providers as single parents. Our society still embraces patriarchy and many women do not have the support structure they require, especially Black women, yet they survive. It is debateable whether equality between these two sexes will be achieved, because citizenship has always been constructed in masculine

terms (McEwan, 2000, p. 627). This essay will critically review the recent debates around feminist research. Definition Feminist research is defined as research which is carried out by women who identify as feminists, and which has a particular purpose for knowing (a `why'), particular kinds of questions, topics and issues to be known about (a `what'), and an identifiable method of knowing (a `how'), which distinctly draw on women's experience of living in a world in which women are subordinate to men (Wadsworth, 1991, p. 2). Feminist research studies the social conditions of women in a sexist, malestream and patriarchal society and enlightens people about taken-for-granted sexist practices and the gender-blindness of government and community practices (including publications) that displaced, ignored and silenced women, led to an unequal and discriminating social order, and held them captive for millennia. (Stanley and Wise, 1983, p. 12). Feminist research is, by definition, research that utilizes feminist concerns and beliefs to ground the research process. Feminism takes women as its starting point, seeking to explore and uncover patriarchal social dynamics and relationships from the perspective of women Brayton, 1997, p. 16). Historical background The Bible presents women as subordinates to men. In Genesis 3:16 it states that unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Scientist may not agree with the above statement given the lack of empirical proof of some of the Bibles claims (Greater Houston Creation Association, n.d). The churches indoctrinated
2

people as well that a woman is subordinate to man. Could this be the reason that women today are still inferior to men? Women have experienced so much hardship and until today through inequities against them and although women movements such as, the African National Congress Womans League (ANCWL) are attempting to bring about change, womens voices still seem to fall on hard ground. In the 3rd century BCE Roman women were revoked against purchasing of expensive products by the consul Marcus Porcius Cato (Encyclopaedia Britannicas Guide) who claimed that if they are victorious now, what will they not attempt and he further pointed out that as soon as they begin to be your equals, they will have become your superiors. It just seemed to be about control and power over women to limit their activities. Rebellion continued, in the 1400s and the 1500s women were denied education and marital oppression to womens attire and the 1700s Jean-Jacques Rousseau the French philosopher depicted women to be silly and frivolous creatures, born to be subordinate to men (Encyclopaedia Britannicas Guide). South African context The list goes on from one century to another, about women rebelling against oppression and inequalities against them to no avail. Moreover, in the apartheid era women suffered oppression such as, race, sexism and class in addition to their trials with men. It is mentioned in the South African History Archive (n.d) that within the racist and sexist system women are not only oppressed in relations to men, but also in relation to each other. This indicates that amongst women different classes oppressed one another. This seems to be not the case today however it is about race and sex. Womens movements were established to fight the good fight for womens liberation from oppression. There are quite a few feminist or womens movements such as, People Opposing Woman Abuse (POWA), Womens National Coalition SA (WNCSA), the Rural Womens Movement

(RWM) and so forth who are faced with many challenges as feminists. It is evident today that women are still in bondage and are experiencing great sorrow in the midst of these movements. The mortality rates of children are still rife due to the possibility of negligence; women are still being ill-treated and raped even by their partners and family members. This seems to be particularly higher in Black communities where sexism rules or so we are led to believe. The universe is aware of what is conceivably occurring in black communities, yet no one seems to be interested in occurrences in white communities. The Black people were portrayed to be uglier than White people in nature and as such were considered more reprehensible (Russell, 1996, p. 178). Russell also mentions that to do research on White women is unheard of and not supported instead, researching Black is ideal since they are the inferior group. In the apartheid era people were entrenched with the notion that black was bad. Is this still the case today? Women, especially Black women still seem to be suffering more than their White counterparts. According to Agyeman (2008), whilst white women experience oppression as patriarchal, black women experience it as racist and patriarchal (p. 3). Patriarchy seems nonetheless prevalent in our society and in various settings around the world which has been around since the dawn of time. Men it seems, sees women as objects which they possess and that civilisation depicts the man. Hesse-Biber (n.d) is of the view that men feel that humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous being (p. 30). South Africa has a past to this effect which originated from colonisation, slavery, racism and each individual has his own narrative that has to be fathomed. Agyeman (2008) further mentions that the importance of understanding discourses on the Other (black women) as being embedded in historical conditions of slavery, colonialism and racism as well as the discourses and practices which

these bring about (p. 3). So it appears that women have been subjected to slavery and were exploited to entertain men as well while colonisation furthermore contributed to this problem. Slavery today has taken on a different face such as, pornography and women trafficking. Pornography and women trafficking are considered a mainstream today everywhere in the world and South Africa is not immune to it. Johannsdottir (2009), makes mention that the women of today have become an easy prey to this mainstreaming, since it is mainly she who gets entangled in pornography, prostitution and last but not least the trafficking in women. This gives rise to so many problems associated with women such as, HIV and AIDS, violence against women, rape, abuse, inequalities which seem to be the norm today. Race, culture and traditions too play a huge part in the social disparities which contributes to women enduring economic deficiencies. Women have no say over their sexuality and sexual preferences. It is for this reason that feminists do feminist research since it is political. For many centuries women have been and still are being subjected to physical, emotional, social and economic oppressions and feminists want to change this situation to a better improved life. Wadsworth (2001) concur by saying that if there is a central reason why feminists do feminist research it revolves around the need to know and understand better the nature of the hurt we sustain as a group - a group which is subordinated on the grounds of our female gender. This is not knowledge for its own sake' but rather is knowledge explicitly dedicated to bringing about change and improvement in our situation as women (p. 2). The author mentions change and improvement in the lives of women, something so insignificant yet significant to men. It seems as if men feel threatened by women so they have to have control over women in every aspect of their lives. I think women do not want to take over the role of men but want recognition and respect where it is due. Women want economic and social freedom yet it is not possible because it is a mans world. Men own everything in it including women.
5

In some cultures women are the possessions of men, particularly the African culture. According to Motsei (2007), contemporary interpretations of African culture seem to equate women with cows or land that a man owns. She is accorded little or no respect and is perceived to be of lesser value (p.153). South African president is an African with African values and traditions who has been taken to court for raping a women. This makes me wonder then why our society cannot reconcile since our leaders tend to step out of line. The author reiterates the fact that women are of no consequence, this is especially so in Black communities. It seems women are just there for their biological functions and should be confined to it. This just takes me back to the scriptures where a womans suffering will be increased and it has been so ever since. As much as feminists and womens movements are fighting for change in the lives of women, it seems there will always be something new that women will hurt from. In the workplace the gaps seem great with discrimination, disparity concerning salaries between men and women based on gender, race and so forth. Yet, the Employment Equity Act (No. 58 of 1998) states: No person may unfairly discriminate, directly or indirectly, against an employee, in any employment policy or practice, on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth (p. 14). If government presented this legal policy document to the nation, why does it not seem be implemented in so many organisations? It is possible that the peoples mind-set has to be transformed. The values of apartheid era no longer existent in policy however this has to be altered as it looks as if people are still harbouring thoughts of that era. It serves no one any

justice if equal rights to all are only ink on paper however in reality this is not being practiced. As emotional beings, women, are part of this world and as such should be permitted to play a role in the development of South Africa. Discussion Social science researchers want to quantify feminist research based on their concerns and feelings. How does one quantify how people feel? Women are emotional beings and have the tendency to interpret their experiences and concerns in words not numerically. Feminists will not be able to get the full interpretations of womens plight if quantitative research is done, as values cannot be placed to understand the inner recesses of a woman. There seems to be a link between quantitative and positivist research since both of them measure external things objectively and cannot determine the quantity of pain women feels when they experience abuse or rape. In fact Jayaratne et al (1995) gives evidence that although positivist methods and world views are objectionable, sexist even,what should be objected to about them isnt quantification or their use of statistical techniques (p. 221). Quantitative research cannot possibly give women the voice they need and deserve. This seems to be more qualitative in nature and has a link with the interpretivism that is subjective. These are able to translate what women feel as women; and are able to speak about the experiences while researchers interpret this information to give meaning and ultimately a voice to them. According to Jayaratne and Stewart (1995) Much of this debate has concerned the claim that quantitative research techniques - involving the translation of individuals experience into categories predefined by researchers - distort womens experience and result in a silencing of womens own voices (p. 217). On the other hand qualitative research method seems more appropriate since it has the ability to decode the experiences of women into text and this allows the researcher to

comprehend the maximum significance of the plight of women. Jayaratne et al (1995) further adds that advocates of qualitative methods have argued that individual womens understandings, emotions, and actions in the world must be explored in those womens own terms (p. 217). It appears that researchers agree to disagree on the most suitable method to utilise, however the use of both these techniques seems relevant depending on the type of research conducted. Yet, feminists still believe that qualitative techniques are relevant to articulate womens experiences within social science however male scientists conducting quantitative research do not rely on sentiments and biases since the traditional technique of research has been quantitative (Jayaratne et al, 1995, p. 220). Qualitative method of research seems more humane because of the interaction between the researcher and respondent than quantitative that appears to be detached. Our government should take the experiences and apprehensions of the women seriously taking into account the past events and how those incidents influence the future of this country. By this It is meant that citizenship belongs to both genders, thus womens voices should be heard, and paid attention to since what they have to say will no doubt impact leaders of tomorrow. Feminist research is political because it embraces the woman who fosters intrinsic moral values and interest, to the benefit of the nation and government should put policies in place to protect them. The writer thinks that policies ought to be changed in the South African Police Service so that police officers are educated about the rights of women and taken to serious task when they abuse their position as people serving the public, when mishandling cases that are reported to them regarding violence against women. Irrespective of tradition and culture, we live in the 21st century where it is no longer permissible for women to endure so much pain and suffering. Traditional leaders should also discern at what time to draw the line where their women are concerned. Women in rural areas are voiceless and left in the dark to suffer.
8

Times have changed and we cannot allow men to make Western decisions when they have traditional attitudes. Illiteracy in our communities should be another undertaking for government to address because our education system leaves much to be desired. Our education system lacks the essence of urgency; what with textbooks arriving late and teachers and parents see the need for continuous training to assist children. Our healthcare condition is appalling since many healthcare workers seem not to value life. They should receive intensive customer service training to deal with the sick to eliminate the mortality rate. Conclusion In conclusion, women contribute so much to society and yet they are silenced by men who feel they are subordinate to them. Feminists are vessels to make the voices of women heard about their experiences and concerns in a mans world. Women play a significant role in society and do not want to take over the world to dominate men; they only want to be acknowledged and recognised for their input. The abuse against women is a serious problem for government to address and should leave no stone unturned in rectifying the mind-set of men. We all have to look within ourselves to make the change so that everyone can heal and work together to the success of the nation. Reference list Agyeman, G. S. (2008) White Researcher- Black Subjects: Exploring the Challenges of Researching the Marginalised and Invisible. The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods. 6 (1), 77 -84, available online at www.ejbrm.com Brayton, J. (1997). What makes Feminist Research Feminist? The Structure of Feminist Research within the Social Sciences. This essay has been presented at several conferences. South African Department of Labour. Employment Equity Act No. 58 of 1998.

Enclycpaedia Britannicas Guide to Womenss history. (March 18, 2013). Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/women/article-21606 Hesse-Biber, S.N. (n.d). Feminist Research. Exploring, Interrogating, and Transforming the Interconnections of Epistemology, Methodology, and Method. New York: Oxford University Press. Jayaratne, T. and Stewart, A. (1995). Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences: Feminist issues and practical strategies. In Holland. J. and Blair, M. Debates and Issues in Feminist Research. Clevedon: Open University Press. Johannsdottir, N. K. (2009). Patriarchy and the subordination of women. from a radical feminist point of view. Haskoli Islands. McEwan, C. (2000). Engendering citizenship: gendered spaces of democracy in South Africa. University of Birmingham. Birmingham. Elsevier Science Ltd. Motsei, M. (2007). The Kanga and the Kangaroo Court: Reflections on the Rape Trial of Jacob Zuma. Sunnyside: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd. Ch 5 Women ask for it: From kangaroo court to kanga court. ( pp 145-171). No author, Bible vs Science. (March 19, 2013). Greater Houston Creation Association. Retrieved from http://www.ghcaonline.com/Articles/Bible_vs_science/Bible_vs science.html Russell, D. (1996). X. Between a rock and a hard place: The politics of white feminists conducting research on black women in South Africa. Feminism Psychology. May 1996, 6 (20), (pp. 176-180). South African History Archive (n.d). (March 19, 2013). Women speak out against triple oppression. Systematic Oppression Unveiling Resistance, article on South African. Retrieved from http://www.saha.org.za/women/women_speak_out_against_triple_oppression.htm Stanley, L. and Wise, S. (1993). Breaking Out Again: Feminist Ontology and Epistemology. London: Routledge. The Holy Bible. The book of Genesis. The fall of man. Ch 3: 16. Wadsworth, Y. (2001). What is Feminist Research? Bridging the gap: Feminisms and Participatory Action Research Conference: Boston College.

10

11