Conclusions

Abstract

This study has taken the point of view that only autonomy is an adequate concept of equality for women and that the emphasis should be on monitoring the process towards the goal of autonomy because the end state of autonomy is elusive conceptually. Adequate equality takes into account the differences of women so as to enable them to make free lifestyle choices to participate in both or either the public and private spheres in a way that neither penalises nor rewards the choices in material and/or social terms. Such individualised equality means that not only are differences between men and women accounted for, but also that differences between women themselves are accounted for. As such, autonomy is an anarchic concept and eludes speculation as to what its ideal end state might look like. This study has examined, rather, the process towards gender autonomy, because focusing on the process reaffirms that gender autonomy, not equality, is the goal.