'Its the babies that keep us back': perceptions of gender equality in the lives of a sample of black South African women

Abstract

This article investigates the perception of gender equality as experienced in the lives of a sample of black South African women. According to the South African Constitution women are guaranteed equality, but is this equality evident in the lives of ordinary black South African women? Is feminism still necessary in South African? An analysis of the perceptions of these women shows a need for a new feminism to suit the experiences and world view of this sample of women. Different forms of black feminism are found to be inadequate in resolving the inequalities experienced and the searching for an alternative form of feminism is suggested