Maqubela, L. N.Mulaudzi, T. P.Manuella, Nyasha Gaspare2017-10-302017-10-302017-09-18Manuella, N.G. 2017. Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa. . . http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918MGSInstitute for Gender and Youth StudiesPolitical participation has more to do with various procedures than voting only. The United Nations (2015) argues that politics has to do with freedom of speech, working together without gender biasness, capacity to take part in the public sphere, ability to be registered as a political contender and campaign, be voted and be able to hold office at all stages of government leadership. Therefore, world-over men and women should be equal in order to participate in all areas of decision making in party-politics. Unfortunately, this has not been easy for women as there have been several barriers to their participation. This is because gender equality has been implemented on paper than in practice. This is due to the fact that many people have been socialised to believe that men are more powerful than women. This practice is deeply engraved into the social systems extending to the economic and political spheres leading to women being regarded powerless and unable to take up decision making or influential political positions in many nations. The gender biasness becomes even more apparent in political parties, women are often appointed to positions relating to administration and nurturing roles as compared to the strategic positions. Women continue to be marginalized as men still continue to be regarded as the custodians of leadership positions this study aims to examine the political disparities between men and women as they determine who should be nominated and elected leading to many women being disregarded. Qualitative approach was used for data collection using semi-structured interviews.Data was then analysed using the thematic analysis to draw themes from the research as well as participants’ responses. Non-probability sampling was used to choose participants of the study using the purposive or judgmental sampling. Moreover, a gender audit was made with regards to gender representation in the Vhembe District political arena. Information for the audit was acquired through the help of key informants. Findings of the research observed that in the Vhembe District, besides the existing barriers against women’s ascendency to positions of political power, women have been finding a way up to influential political positions, even though many are still concentrated at the very low positions as councillors. Hence, besides the unprecedented number of women politicians, equal gender relations have not been achieved in the district. Furthermore, the findings indicated that, political people in the district are less aware of gender policies as well as government efforts aimed at doing away with gender inequalities in the sector. In this regard, this research is a significant instrument in highlighting the disparities that exist between men and women which disadvantage mainly women by holding them back from accessing equal influential political positions.1 online resource (105 leaves)enUniversity of VendaGender equalityUCTDSocialisedInfluential political positionGender representation324.340968257Women in politics -- South Africa -- LimpopoWomen in civil service -- South Africa -- LimpopoPolitics, Practical -- South Africa -- LimpopoSex discrimination against women -- South Africa -- Limpopo.Sex discrimination -- South Africa -- LimpopoPolitical parties -- South Africa -- Limpopo.Political sociology -- South Africa -- Limpopo.DissertationManuella NG. Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa. []. , 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918Manuella, N. G. (2017). <i>Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa</i>. (). . Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918Manuella, Nyasha Gaspare. <i>"Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa."</i> ., , 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918TY - Dissertation AU - Manuella, Nyasha Gaspare AB - Political participation has more to do with various procedures than voting only. The United Nations (2015) argues that politics has to do with freedom of speech, working together without gender biasness, capacity to take part in the public sphere, ability to be registered as a political contender and campaign, be voted and be able to hold office at all stages of government leadership. Therefore, world-over men and women should be equal in order to participate in all areas of decision making in party-politics. Unfortunately, this has not been easy for women as there have been several barriers to their participation. This is because gender equality has been implemented on paper than in practice. This is due to the fact that many people have been socialised to believe that men are more powerful than women. This practice is deeply engraved into the social systems extending to the economic and political spheres leading to women being regarded powerless and unable to take up decision making or influential political positions in many nations. The gender biasness becomes even more apparent in political parties, women are often appointed to positions relating to administration and nurturing roles as compared to the strategic positions. Women continue to be marginalized as men still continue to be regarded as the custodians of leadership positions this study aims to examine the political disparities between men and women as they determine who should be nominated and elected leading to many women being disregarded. Qualitative approach was used for data collection using semi-structured interviews.Data was then analysed using the thematic analysis to draw themes from the research as well as participants’ responses. Non-probability sampling was used to choose participants of the study using the purposive or judgmental sampling. Moreover, a gender audit was made with regards to gender representation in the Vhembe District political arena. Information for the audit was acquired through the help of key informants. Findings of the research observed that in the Vhembe District, besides the existing barriers against women’s ascendency to positions of political power, women have been finding a way up to influential political positions, even though many are still concentrated at the very low positions as councillors. Hence, besides the unprecedented number of women politicians, equal gender relations have not been achieved in the district. Furthermore, the findings indicated that, political people in the district are less aware of gender policies as well as government efforts aimed at doing away with gender inequalities in the sector. In this regard, this research is a significant instrument in highlighting the disparities that exist between men and women which disadvantage mainly women by holding them back from accessing equal influential political positions. DA - 2017-09-18 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Gender equality KW - Socialised KW - Influential political position KW - Gender representation LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2017 T1 - Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa TI - Gender Representation in Party Politics: A Case Study of Vhembe District in Limpopo, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11602/918 ER -