dc.description.abstract | Women’s participation in public life has generated interest from both political and social
science. Women use different strategies to gain access to resources and power within the
local community. The focus of the study is the participation of women in formal and non
formal politics. In party politics, women’s participation may be constrained by the
relative closure of the institutionalized political system. Women who are in the opposition
parties may find it difficult to come into the open about their political participation
because of fear of violence from the ruling parties.
Women in formal politics also have different sources of power and authority. Power may
be wielded by individuals because of their personal characteristics or husband’s
positions. Women may access positions of power and authority because they are sisters,
wives, aunts, daughters or widows of powerful men. However, women who have
significant power in local structures are those who belong to powerful organizations such
as the church, political parties and government. Women utilize different strategies in
formal politics of which networks and patron client relationships are the most common
strategies.
In non formal politics, the thesis analyses the participation of women in civil society
organizations which include the Goromonzi Women’s Ratepayers Association (GWRA),
the Chinyika Farmers Group and the Agriculture Dairy Project. Market women were an
important group in civil society in Goromonzi who pursued both economic and political
objectives. The thesis identifies the similarities, linkages and differences between formal
and non formal politics. In both formal and non formal politics some women become
leaders because of their relationship with powerful men and women in the community or
outside the local communities. The thesis emphasizes the agency of women in the context
of opportunities and constraints. Women therefore organize around issues relating to
accessing resources rather than politics per se. Some women in Goromonzi had
disengaged from both formal and non formal politics or preferring to concentrate on
individual ventures rather than associational activities. It offers fresh insights into the
current knowledge on women in politics, transactionalism, gender and power relations at
the community level. The concept of social networks is also explored in the context of
politics at the grassroots level and is a valuable contribution to the existing body of
knowledge on networks. | en_US |