STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape — While South Africa’s national government frequently highlights the high number of women leading public institutions, a deeper look reveals a regressive trend at the grassroots level. According to Stellenbosch University SARChI Gender Politics Chairperson Prof. Amanda Gouws, escalating political violence, systemic online abuse, and deeply ingrained societal double standards are actively driving women out of leadership roles across both the public and private sectors.
The paradox of female representation in South Africa was a focal point during recent Women’s Month reflections. While the presidency points to strong female figures heading national institutions, data from the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) paints a concerning picture of local governance. The CGE reports that female representation in municipal councils dropped from 41% in 2016 to just 37% in 2021.
Gouws attributes this decline to the mechanics of the local electoral system and the rise of coalition politics. In local government, the mix of ward constituencies and proportional lists disproportionately disadvantages women, who face stiffer, often more hostile competition against men in direct ward elections. Furthermore, the fragmentation of coalition politics means smaller parties, which may only field a single candidate, overwhelmingly default to nominating men.
Economic Empowerment vs. Political Accountability
The root causes of this underrepresentation are heavily debated among political elites. Nomvula Mokonyane, a prominent figure in the ANC leadership, has previously suggested that the struggle for equal representation will persist until women achieve sustained economic empowerment and true financial independence.
Gouws, however, firmly pushes back against using poverty as the primary excuse for the gender gap in politics. While economic barriers exist, she argues that political parties must take direct accountability for their candidate lists. She points out that while the ANC enforces strict gender quotas at the national level, those mandates vanish at the local government tier, resulting in a lack of parity.
Beyond party structures, Gouws issues a direct challenge to the women who have already broken through the glass ceiling in national government, questioning what current female leaders are actively doing to pull other women into the political arena.
The Chilling Effect of Gendered Electoral Violence
Perhaps the most alarming barrier to female political participation is the physical and psychological danger associated with running for office. Gouws highlighted a recently completed study focusing on the experiences of female candidates, which uncovered a deeply hostile environment characterized by severe intimidation.
The research details widespread threats of physical and sexual violence, alongside relentless online abuse and “slut-shaming” designed to humiliate female candidates. These tactics are highly effective deterrents, causing many qualified women to withdraw from elections entirely. Gouws notes a glaring legislative void in South Africa, emphasizing that the country currently lacks robust laws to police, curb, and prosecute online violence against political candidates.
Corporate Glass Ceilings and Resource Disparities
The barriers to female advancement are not confined to the ballot box; they are equally entrenched in the corporate sector. When analyzing companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Gouws notes that the percentage of female CEOs has historically languished below 10%. While there has been a marginal increase recently, the numbers remain critically low.
In the boardroom, the hurdles are largely cultural and financial. Gouws explains that pervasive societal norms—which are internalized by both men and women—still largely view women as primary caregivers and homemakers rather than cutthroat business leaders. This bias creates an invisible glass ceiling. Furthermore, upward corporate mobility requires capital, and women generally have less access to the financial resources and funding networks necessary to ascend to top executive roles.
The Double Standard of Public Shaming
Beyond systemic and economic hurdles, female leaders face a unique and unforgiving court of public opinion regarding their personal lives and moral conduct. Gouws points to a glaring double standard in how society and the media judge the mistakes of male versus female leaders.
To illustrate this, she referenced recent controversial remarks made by Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, who suggested that the downfall and recall of certain female ministers in politics is sometimes linked to them dating younger men. Gouws juxtaposed this intense scrutiny of female sexuality with the historical treatment of male leaders, such as the scandals surrounding former US President Bill Clinton, noting that men frequently survive serious controversies that would end a woman’s career.
“We apply a certain standard to men’s sexuality and we apply a different standard to women’s sexuality,” Gouws observed. She pointed out that male government officials found guilty of sexual harassment are often temporarily suspended and eventually reintegrated into their positions. Conversely, women rarely recover from public shaming and moral policing.
This patriarchal scrutiny creates a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” reality for women in the public eye. According to Gouws’s research, unmarried female politicians are mocked and shamed for failing to find a husband, while married female politicians with children are heavily criticized for allegedly neglecting their families. Male politicians are almost never subjected to this line of questioning.
Ultimately, Gouws asserts that these relentless double standards are symptomatic of deeply rooted patriarchal norms. These societal structures continue to view women as inherently inferior and attempt to confine them to the private, domestic sphere, actively resisting their rightful place in politics, labor, and modern leadership.
