ANC women's league: Sex, politics and gender

The women’s league has played a large but little understood role in the history of the ANC. Over the years it has been headed by some powerful women including Albertina Sisulu and Winnie Mandela and has often gained public and media attention. But what role has it actually played in black political life and what influence has it had on national and gender politics in the country? This book provides a revealing insight into the connections between gender, sex and politics in the history of South Africa.

Shireen Hassim is a Professor in Political Science at the University of the Witwatersrand and a widely published author in the field of gender politics in South Africa. Dr Hassim has worked on the South African women’s movement for several years, and has lectured and published in this field. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Womensnet, a website for women, and of the Editorial Committee of the journal African Studies.