Challenges to achieve gender equality in South Africa

Abstract

The article is devoted to achieving gender equality and overcoming gender discrimination in the Republic of South Africa. The analysis of the scientific literature on this issue attests to the variety of problems that negatively affect gender equality in society. The urgency of solving this scientific problem lies in the fact that to improve the situation; it is necessary to accumulate financial and intellectual resources to expand the rights and opportunities of women. For the needs of this study, the methods of conceptual analysis were chosen, which involve a careful study of rational relationships between terms, concepts, variables, definitions, constructions, hypotheses, theories and statements, as well as categorization of their consequences and assumptions. The collection of information for the office study lasted 3 months. The Republic of South Africa was chosen as the case of the study because, starting in 1994, a democratic regime was established in the country, which helped to overcome the problems of racial inequality and discrimination. The normative basis for ensuring gender equality is determined by the second chapter of the International Bill of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The issue of protecting gender inequality in the workplace is also regulated. The study empirically confirms and theoretically proves that despite the legislative regulation of the problem of gender equality and the strengthening of the international community to this issue, women still cannot take on strategic roles and leadership in management decision-making due to gender disparity in both political and administrative positions. To ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men, which are defined at the legislative level, it is necessary that the top management of companies is aware of the gender equality programs that can be implemented in their respective divisions and that gender awareness is integrated into the organizational culture and processes monitoring. The work emphasizes the need to change the paradigm from a gender-biased to a gender-oriented society. The study results can be helpful for policy makers to implement a gender mainstreaming strategy to promote gender equality.