From the beginning of time, women’s voices were not heard. At the beginning woman were seen as a possession, even now in some cultures women are still seen as a possession. Now we are going to look at woman in development in a South African context.

Gender and development (GAD) started in 1980’s and focus on women and men. GAD is radical feminism. The feminist approach and development to GAD, women’s emancipation uprooting of patriarchy. When we put this development in a South African perspective, we can look at story of women’s day (9 August). In the year 1956, approximately 20,000 women marched to the Union Building in Pretoria with more the 100,000 signatures against pass laws that required Black citizen to carry an internal passport, that served to maintain population segregation, control urbanization, and manage migrate labour during the apartheid era.

Woman in development (WID) started in the early 1970’s and focused on the development of the women. WID is based on the liberal modernization theory. The feminist approach and development to WID, restructuring development programs of welfare, equity, antipoverty empowerment of woman. When we put this development in a South African context, we must look at business called SYSPRO. SYSPRO implemented to programs, “Woman in technology” where they develop women how to do programming, and the other program is “Woman and leadership” where they develop woman to became and maintain senior positions in the business and industry.

Postmodernism of Development (PAD) started in 1990’s and focus on women. PAD is postmodern feminism. The feminist approach and development to PAD, is post development and local knowledge. When we put this development in a South African perspective, we are going to look at the housewives. A housewife’s role is to look after the children, make sure everything works smoothly at home and to make sure everyone is fed.  Most housewives are financially depended on their partner, it means when they want to get a divorce they cannot. In many cases they want to divorce because their partner is abusive, and they are “stuck” in the relationship.

It is always important to make sure that you are not financially depended to your partner, to make sure that can get out of a toxic marriage. To all the women make sure of it that your voice is notice.