Women, Homeownership and the Asset Effect of Subsidized Housing in South Africa

The need to correct the historical urban and housing exclusion of black women in South Africa explains in part, the non-discrimination, economic inclusion and poverty alleviation objectives of post-apartheid macroeconomic, urban and housing policies. Housing policy, in particular, couches housing enfranchisement as economically transformative for low income owners, including women, through its performance as a social, economic and financial asset. This policy thinking is in line with the global neoliberal discourse on the asset effect of property ownership, which is actualized through the registration of title. The asset effect of subsidized housing in South Africa is overwhelmingly reported as low. Such evaluation however, is generally gender-blind, which disregards the fact that the means by which housing is envisaged to function as an asset may hinder women’s exploitation of its asset value. This chapter, firstly, through an analytical review of literature, expatiates on how post-apartheid housing policy envisions urban inclusion, wealth creation and poverty alleviation to unfold from homeownership. Secondly, it uses a gender lens to evaluate the extent to which these objectives have been met as a result of women’s homeownership. Finding that the differential benefits of urbanization between genders make the asset effect less straightforward and assured for women, it concludes that gender-specific strategies for their inclusion in the spatial, economic and financial systems of cities are key to overcoming the prevailing “dead asset” character of their housing.