The left and gender relations -- criticism and self criticism -- what is the way forward?

This essay of the month discusses some of the lessons to be learned from the collapse of socialism in Eastern Europe and applied to the new opportunities in South Africa to undue patriarchal systems and transform gender relations. In South Africa socialism and equitable gender relations will be manifested in the care with which the Reconstruction and Development Program is implemented in gender sensitive ways. Economic transformations for women are of great importance, but so are political empowerment, state policy, and addressing social problems. Socialists must be aware of class relations and within that context gender relations. National liberation struggles offer a sense of direction in the integration of gender relations into development. Nicaraguan women have established Houses of Women, which provide legal, health, maternity, and day care services as a means of engaging women in a mass-driven approach. In Costa Rica the Vanguard Party recognizes the obstacles to the political engagement of women as husbands' attitudes, child care, and household responsibilities. Perestroika contributes new ideas about the social problems of family life. Gorbachev's address to the 27th Congress provides suggestions about shortening women's work day and granting paid maternity leave of 18 months. Paid sick leave for care of sick children would be increased for women. Special allowances would be given to low income families with children aged under 12 years of age. Preschool education would be expanded. In South Africa some of these proposals could be applied for men and women in the course of job creation while supporting within the political process the familial and social responsibility of men. Thus South Africa can avoid the problems of men loafing rather than helping relieve their wives of some of the burdensome tasks of infant care. Socialism in South Africa must specifically address the damage from apartheid, which particularly scarred youth and children. Community Life Centers should be established for psychological and social work counseling. Crime, violence, and social dislocation can be solved through addressing the personal in a political and organizational manner by political party policies, nongovernmental organizations, and government activities. Attention to socioeconomic issues and democratizing structures does not go far enough.