Gender governance and democracy : Southern and Eastern Africa

This paper addresses gender, governance and democracy in Eastern and Southern Africa following the democratic turn of the 1980s. It explores the gendered nature of power and authority in these post-colonial states and the kinds of gender governance practices instituted in the region in response to local, national and international demands for gender justice. While women’s representation and participation in governance increased, women are still among the poorest citizens, with the least opportunity for education and employment and statistically, the most likely to be subject to violent abuse and infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Although women-friendly policies have been instigated, decision-making remains male dominated