Gender Apartheid: What Is It And How Does It Manifest Itself?
Systematically, some structures in the world perpetuate gender inequalities, giving more value to everything related to men and the masculine and undervaluing, attacking or taking away the rights of women. Discrimination, segregation and inequality of opportunities based on gender limit full development and the equal participation of both genders in society; in addition to violating human rights.
Some researchers have spoken of gender apartheid, evoking the infamous racial segregation of South Africa between 1948 and 1992. In this context, it refers to the systematic construction of specific gender roles for men and women, generating an irregular and biased distribution according to gender. of opportunities, rights and expectations. Phyllis Chesler, feminist writer and psychologist, has been one of the most influential voices in denouncing this reality and investigating it.
Throughout this article, we will better understand what gender apartheid is and how it has prevailed throughout history. We will also explore the vision and contributions of Phyllis Che sler on the topic. It is vital to understand the scope and complexity of this issue in order to move towards a society that respects and celebrates gender diversity providing equal opportunities and rights for all people regardless of their gender.
To begin to understand in depth what gender apartheid refers to, it is important to know the historical origins of both the term and the activist and research movement generated from it.
The term gender apartheid, as previously mentioned, is linked to racial apartheid in South Africa This established a system based on white supremacy, segregating racialized people in specific spaces and prohibiting access to spaces that did not correspond to the personal racial group.
In addition, voting power was given to white people and marriage and sexual relations between white and black people were prohibited. This emerged as a way to maintain power among the white people of the country, it is important to note that they were the population minority, representing only 21% of the population.
Gender apartheid is linked to racial apartheid to explain how a systematic construction can isolate women in relation to men, having had many more rights, freedoms and facilities throughout history and this is still reflected in our daily lives. Sometimes it is easy to think that “things are not so bad” or that “there is more equality now”; But the reality is that gender discrimination continues to exist and society in general has been built on sexist and patriarchal foundations.
Understanding the roots of gender apartheid, researchers have traced back to ancient patriarchal societies, in which there were rigid and hierarchical gender roles, with women relegated to domestic and caring roles, and men to power and public leadership.. These divisions gave rise to the systematic discrimination that we have been talking about and on which the planet has developed.
Feminist struggles against this emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries, organizing and fighting for suffrage, the right to work and equal opportunities It is in the mid-20th century and, with the emergence of the second wave of feminism, that awareness of patriarchal power structures and subtle and explicit forms of gender discrimination intensified. Here the term gender apartheid begins to be used to emphasize the similarity with the South African segregationist system.
From this moment on, the term has been consolidated in feminist discourse and has been used to describe various forms of gender discrimination in different societies and cultures. Gender apartheid continues to manifest itself in areas such as equal access to education and healthcare, the wage gap, gender violence and the lack of representation of women in positions of power and decision-making.
How does gender apartheid manifest itself in society?
In the previous section, we have already commented on some representations of the influence of gender apartheid on the daily life of our societies and its different consequences. Let’s discuss them in more detail:
The wage gap is one of the most well-known and persistent inequalities in society, and refers to the fact that women, globally, earn less money than their male colleagues doing similar jobs and having the same training and experience. This inequality limits women’s financial autonomy and perpetuates the cycle of economic dependence
2. Political participation and leadership
Although it seems that in recent years there has been progress in terms of women’s political representation, female participation in leadership positions remains insufficient. Cultural and social barriers, as well as the lack of opportunities and support, contribute to the underrepresentation of women in political decision-making and in leadership roles in different areas more closely linked to the business and executive world.
3. Gender violence
Gender-based violence is one of the most extreme forms of gender apartheid and the use of power against women, and it disproportionately affects women and girls. Domestic violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking for sexual exploitation and other forms of gender-based violence perpetuate oppression and control over women
4. Education and access to opportunities
In many places in the world and due to the structural patriarchal construction, girls and women face obstacles to accessing quality education. This lack of access to education limits their opportunities for personal and professional development, perpetuating their social segregation.
5. Stereotypical gender roles
The maintenance of traditional and stereotypical gender roles imposes rigid expectations on how men and women should behave and aspire to be, limiting their realities and behaviors to ideologies constructed and representative of patriarchy. These influence the choice of careers, the distribution of domestic responsibilities and the perception of capabilities of each gender
6. Maternity and unpaid care
Many women face a double burden of dealing with the responsibility of paid work alongside unpaid care tasks at home. This work distribution limits professional opportunities and can affect your physical and emotional well-being.
Phyllis Chesler and her contributions
Phyllis Chesler is an American feminist writer and psychologist who is considered one of the most influential voices in denouncing gender apartheid and promoting gender equality Throughout his career, he has bravely and insightfully addressed various problems related to gender discrimination. His perspective understands gender oppression as a universal phenomenon, present in all cultures and social systems.
One of Chesler’s main contributions is the critical analysis of the patriarchal structures responsible for gender apartheid. She argues that these structures undermine women’s autonomy and restrict their opportunities, perpetuating inequality rooted in cultural beliefs and gender stereotypes. Through her work, she has challenged the notion that gender discrimination is exclusive to certain cultures or geographies, emphasizing that it is a systematic and global problem that requires collective responses.
It has also addressed the complexity of power relations and gender dynamics in the family and society in general. Her work on the psychology of patriarchy and the way certain norms and values are internalized and perpetuated has been essential to understanding how these inequalities are forged and maintained It highlights the importance of challenging these norms and empowering women to reclaim their autonomy and break oppressive structures.
From her intersectional feminism, Chesler defends that experiences of discrimination vary according to socioeconomic, ethnic, racial and cultural contexts, but emphasizes that all women share a common experience of gender-based oppression. It is essential that they support and collaborate to achieve significant changes.
Conclusions
The concept of gender apartheid reveals a complex and persistent reality in contemporary society. Through discrimination, segregation and the perpetuation of gender roles, gender apartheid limits the full development and equal participation of men and women in different areas of life in society.
It is important to keep in mind that each of us has a role in the fight against gender apartheid We can promote equality in our personal relationships, support initiatives and policies that promote gender equality, and challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that perpetuate discrimination. By following the example of Phyllis Chesler and uniting our voices, we can contribute to creating a future in which gender equality is a palpable reality for all.
