The impact of the patriarchal system in South Africa: Exploring the challenges of women in poverty reduction

Abstract

Since the post-apartheid era that commenced in 1994, the political democracy for every race has not made much difference in South  Africa’s poverty trap, as many black women continue to experience poverty. This is due to various challenges such as poverty,  unemployment and inequalities. Poverty is a social problem that affects both women and men in South Africa, and various extant  literature has established that many women live below the poverty line more than men. Gender scholarships show that the practice of  patriarchy in African countries makes women continue living in poverty. South Africa, like other African countries, continues to practice  the customary laws that hinder women's economic freedom, especially in communal areas. This study presents discursive arguments  that despite the various South African government policies to address gender inequalities in different societies, South African women  continue to experience challenges of poverty, especially in many rural communities of South Africa. The study is underpinned by  womanism theory, which believes that women need to be recognised and empowered like men, to function responsively in societies. This  study explored secondary data sources to add to the discourse on poverty among South African women. Women should be  encouraged through various government economic policies, as well as the use of various empowerment programmes for women in rural  communities.