Transition to equality? Gender relations and democratic change in South Africa

Since coming to office in 1994, the government of South Africa has made strong, legally binding commitments to uphold and promote gender equality. But what are the challenges in achieving gender equality in South Africa’s transition to democracy? An Institute of Development Studies BRIDGE report examines the gender implications of crafting an institutional environment for democracy to address social and economic disadvantage in an unequal society. To reduce poverty and boost gender equality, suggests the report, policy must tackle inequalities such as race, class, location and age, rather than focus on women alone, as a uniform target group.