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Theorising Femininities: Hegemonic Femininity and the ‘Cult of Femininity’ in South Africa
2
femininity
masculinity
power dynamics
THEORISING FEMININITIES: HEGEMONIC FEMININITY & THE ‘CULT OF
FEMININITY’ IN SA
gbv
Presented By:
Tatum Peters
Kirsten Truter
Zain Tape
Inathi Pato
Sthembiso Nxumalo
Munotida Pfende
Mimi Schippers - recovering the feminine other
recovering the feminine other
CONCEPTUALIZATION OF HEGEMONIC FEMININITY AND MULTIPLE HIERARCHICAL FEMININITIES AS BEING CENTRAL TO MALE DOMINANCE WITHIN GENDER RELATIONS
“By fusing sexual desire with masculinity and femininity, sexual desire becomes gendered and gender becomes sexualized.”
- Mimi Schippers
we'll look at her conceptual frameworks next...
conceptual framework:
Men's dominance over women is at the crux of how gender hegemony functions as it relies on both masculinities and femininities.
So what
is the main
aim of her
work?
Aims of Schippers’ article
1) Offer a concept of femininities & masculinities that is not reductive
3) Is useful in identifying how masculinity & femininity ensure
men's dominance over women as a group
2) provide a definition of femininity that locates it in the gender hegemony alongside
masculinity
AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL
an
alternative
model
- Mimi Schippers offers an alternative conceptual framework for how gender hegemony operates through masculinities and femininities and that places men’s dominance over women at the center.
- In other words, Schippers argues that in this model, power dynamics are central.
- She conceptualizes masculinity and femininity as being immersed in and producing power relations.
- Power dynamics are central in both the hierarchical relationship between masculinity and femininity conceptually as well as within the discourses.
GENDER HEGEMONY AND MULTIPLE MASCULINITIES
& FEMININITIES
GENDER HEGEMONY AND MULTIPLE MASCULINITIES AND FEMININITIES
- “Masculinity and femininity are CONTEXTUAL, and intersecting with
other identity categories
- In Mexico City among lower classes, because of the necessity of men participating in child care, it is not deemed 'feminine' BUT amongst the wealthier where men do not have to participate in child care, it is still stigmatized hence, for men to participate in child care
Pariah & subordinate femininities
Pariah femininities next..
- Schippers defines these as
Pariah femininities
- She refers to them as pariah femininities instead of subordinate femininities because they are not deemed inferior traits, because these are the traits a powerful man, would embody, rather they are seen as being an innate failing on the individual part of the woman
‘The cult of femininity’, violent masculinities and GBV
the cult of femininity
violent masculinities and GBV
• Gqola’s reading speaks about how gender based violence is upheld and maintained in South Africa through various ways.
• Gqola speaks of the ‘Cult of Femininity’ which requires women to act in ways which would “prevent” them from the violence men inflict upon women, such as “dressing conservatively” etc. Gqola criticises this idea, explaining how even if women do adhere to the ‘Cult of Femininity, they are still subjected to violence and abuse.
Pumla Gqola
violent masculinities...
• The reading also touches on “violent masculinities”, where Gqola encourages South Africans to seriously analyse and address the violence inflicted upon Black South African women throughout South Africa’s history, during Apartheid and Post-Apartheid, at the hands of men.
• “Violent masculinities” is the connection between how men are taught to enact their masculine selves, and how that inevitably leads to a perpetration of violence. For eg. Young boys are taught to be emotionally hard and consider violence as the only form of expression for emotional distress. Violent Masculinity often leads to an assertion of power over another (mostly women), particularly when a man feels that his masculinity is threatened.
Women’s Empowerment
Women’s Empowerment
- While we are beginning to see more women in positions of political office, corporate powerhouses and great wealth, this is still not enough as this does not reign true to the experience of all women
- A notable proportion of women do not have access to such opportunities due to their race , homophobia etc (intersectionality)
- True transformation is needed
- ‘Thus, although women’s representation in all sectors of our society initially emerged as a radical and feminist call for transformation in the interest of a more equitable society, the version we have now, at least in public talk, is so watered down that it threatens to stall social transformation’
"the cult of femininity"
- A hegemonic femininity that embraces patriarchy and violent masculinities
- Zuma rape trial - women who supported Zuma against Kwezi. Serves as an example of how women can support the very conventions that insists on their subordination and vulnerability to atrocities such as GBV and femicide
- (Ukuthwala, Zulu men beating their wives as a form of discipline, women not being able to speak up against their husbands as this is seen as traitorous )
- Passwords - Women who oppose these patriarchal practices are regarded as ‘elite’ and did not acknowledge the experience of ‘real women on the ground’
the cult
of femininity is coming up next..
“We need psychological liberation from violent masculinities and the cult of femininity — to learn to engage as partners across genders, to respect women’s bodily autonomy and entitlement to sexual and other pleasures”
q&a
- In sum Schippers framework demonstrates how Gender hegemony operates through masculinities and femininities which places man dominance over women.
- Women have expected charecteristics that they must embody, these traits are not natural but work to enforce the power dynamics of the patriachal gender order.
- Social hierarchies amongst women exist whereby categories of race and class come into play. (Political intersectionality)
- Gqola’s work entails how there is still a continuation of violence against black women in SA
S
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m
m
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Q&A
q&A
coming up...
1) How does patriarchy hurt both women and men?
2) Discuss as a class on whether these idealized charecteristics placed for women that enforce power dynamics should be removed from society? If so how and if not what other solution to bring about True Transformation?