Abstract
This study researches the relationship between African states and the African Union Gender Regime. It focuses on determining the factors that must be present for African states, who have ratified the African Union (AU) Gender Regime, to implement domestic legislation in line with the gender regime policies. I use regime theory, norm diffusion, and Africana Womanism as a theoretical framework. I hypothesize that together women’s organizations and their activism must apply high incentives and pressure for gender-related reforms, as well as changing societal norms about women, will leave the patriarchal governments with no other option than to enact legislative reforms, which implements the AU gender regime. This hypothesis is tested through a comparative case study of South Africa and Zambia. The results support the need for high levels of internal pressure to get governments to implement legislative reforms.
Advisor
N'Diaye, Boubacar
Department
Political Science
Recommended Citation
Hassell, Victoria H., "Hephzibah’s Roar: The Impact of Women Movements’ Activism on the Implementation of the African Union Gender Regime" (2016). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11787.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11787
Disciplines
International Relations
Keywords
Women's rights, Women's activism, African Union, Gender Regime, Zambia, South Africa
Publication Date
2016
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2016 Victoria H. Hassell