Introduction

Abstract

Betty Welz, Centre for Women's Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria Gertrude Fester, Hewat College of Education, Cape Town Hlengiwe Mkhize, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg A Nigerian woman: I hope the white South African women who are here have not been sent by their government but have come as individuals. I see them as people who are on our side. I don't think they should be sent away—we should allow them to stay—we are all women (loud applause). An African-American woman: A Black South African sister was in tears [because] white women from South Africa are going to present [papers]. We were all slaves on the African continent and in the United States. We are permitting Europeans to drive a wedge between us once again. If these white women are honorable white women, they will step back and go back to South Africa and tell Botha [sic] to let our people go [some applause]. To let white women still divide us means we're still slaves. A white Bulgarian woman who had been working in Nigeria for 21 years: A bit embarrassing for me—exclude white women? A lot of slaves were sold by their compatriots—and now? We don't need to go back and blame them. African women need all the help they can get... {screams of "Sit down!" The chairperson restored order with some difficulty, insisting that all be given a hearing.