Recently my firm signed in a new client, our client is a noon-governmental organization from a Netherlands called Saving Life Initiative (SLI). The organization normally assists women and children from less developed countries especially in Africa. In order for the organization to achieve its main goals it has to advocate against feminism in communities which it is helping. SLI believes that most of the problems encountered by the African women originate on how women are perceived by the society; they are looked down upon by their male counterparts. To help eradicate this problem SLI has requested my firm to come up with strategies on how it can achieve this goal. The issue of feminism is a complicated matter affecting the many communities in the world especially in Africa. This is because the issue stems a heated argument from either party involved. For instance, SLI and other NGOs view is that deprivation of a woman’s rights is source of many problems in the society, while the Africans Culture and Customs allow men to treat women in that manner. In the African culture view, women constitute part of property owned by man; a woman is man’s wealth. This culture allows polygamy; men can have as many women as their wealth can allow them. Finally, missionaries visited Africa and introduced the concept of religion. According to the Bible women should be submissive to their husbands thus men have power and authority over the female gender. Due to the issue having different turns the paper will try and explain each view at a time.
Oyewumi, O, ed. “African Gender Studies: A Reader”: Theoretical Questions and Conceptual Issues. Palgrave Macmillan US, (2005) 145- 378
This book explains some of the contemporary issues facing the African Communities from different perspectives. The contents of the book vary from spirituality, gender and power, but mainly concentrate on the female gender. The editor offers a different view on how the structure of the African society should be summarizing the role of women in the society. The editor mainly tackles the place of women after the post-colonialism. This means the editor takes into account the aspects that changed after colonialism, for instance people from Yoruba started to receive education. Education as a basic component in the society mainly changed how the society treated the girl child. Ever since women started to receive education their position in the society has changed since they have equal opportunities as men. In her first chapters she tries to paint a different picture of how gender should be perceived. She gender from sex and how gender should not be used to as the basis to differentiate between men and women. The book is also suitable for the subject since the editor offers different perspectives regarding the subject. The editor explains a particular topic from the perspective of the Asante people and at the same time offers the perspective of the western culture. These distinguishable features make the book appropriate for my research.
The editor Oyeronke Oyewumi is an associate professor of Sociology matters at the Stony Brook University. The editor has a privilege to experience life from African perspective and U.S perspective; having been born and raised in Nigeria and leaving for U.S to further her studies. Thus the editor has a clear understanding of the issues that affect women in Africa. For this reason her book serves as the best reference a reader can study in order establish a clear understanding on the subject. In addition the editor has pursued Bachelor in Sociology from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria before proceeding to University of California at Berkeley. Besides editing this book, Oyewumi has authored other items, for example: The Invention of Women in 1997. This monograph won the American Sociological Association’s in 1998. The qualifications of the write concerning the subject are over and above the standard of many authors.
Mikell, G, ed. “African Feminism”: The Politics of Survival in Sub-Saharan Africa. University of Pennsylvania Press, (2010) 25-294
This book has covered African Feminism from a wider angle. Mikell has explored the experiences of many women from different communities. In addition she has incorporated the contemporary issues surrounding the lives of women in the society. She has tackled matters such as women involvement in Agriculture, the AIDS epidemic and how it has affected the lives of women in Africa. Other subjects include, how the Zambian government impoverished it women by taking over the alcohol production industry, how women in Swaziland struggle to earn a living from cottage industry and the role played by the Kenyan women in politics. All these issues demonstrate how women approach different activities in life.
African Feminism means emancipating women of color on their rights and freedoms. Mikell has done an excellent job in identifying how women get involved in certain activities in the society. The writer portrays the African woman as an individual who works hard to escape the daily hardships. For instance the Swazi women who work in the cottage industry are paid less; in addition they are denied their rights such as maternity leave. Even when granted the maternity leave they do not receive the necessary allowances. A similar case is suffered by a Zambian woman whose daily source of income was taken over by the government. Traditionally, the women in Zambia generated their income from brewing of alcohol. After colonization the new government started producing alcohol thus many women lost their jobs. However, these women have not given in to the struggle as they have moved to the cities to such for jobs. The recent statistics in Zambia show that number of women leaving the countryside to the urban centers exceeds that of men. This book gives the reader a different perspective of how African women interpret feminism.
Okome, Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké. “African Women and Power: Labor, Gender and Feminism in the Age of Globalization.” SAGE Race Relations Abstracts. Vol. 30. No. 2. 2005. 5-10
This journal presents a different view since it introduces the aspect of globalization in the struggle for African women feminism. The concept of globalization has made the life of the African women to be more difficult; due to increased competition in the whole world the opportunities available are low paying jobs, the laborers are overworked and lack of labor benefits. The African women are able to travel to foreign countries to look for labor. The jobs available to these women include child and elderly care and cleaning jobs. However, the African women with professional training are able to take up jobs such as nursing, teaching and attorneys. Despite the African woman being educated she is a victim of manipulation and coercion. In addition these women are heavily extorted by the agencies involved in recruiting them. The author of this journal continues to explain the plight of these women. In case where women lack the proper documentation of citizenship in the foreign country but their spouses’ posses the legal documentation; they are blackmailed by their husbands to do whatever is expected of them.
Ahikire, Josephine. “African feminism in context: Reflections on the legitimation battles, victories and reversals.” Feminist Africa 19 Pan-Africanism and Feminism (2014): 7-23
The author of this paper has focused on explaining the achievements and failures of African Feminism. However, her approach targets on the contribution feminism in politics. The writer acknowledges the input of education towards emancipating women in Uganda, Cameroon and Senegal. There have been several schools established within the African continent to facilitate the gender and women studies. Such institutions include; The African Gender Institute in Cape Town and The School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University in Uganda. The writer has praised the input of these institutions towards producing women leaders. Feminism in Africa has led to organizations such as The African Union (AU) to introduce policies such as Rights of Women in Africa which advocates for (50:50) gender parity in politics. The writer has also elaborated on more issues included in the policies such as; upholding of women’s rights and freedoms, ensuring women live in safe households, ensuring every woman has access to good health and ensuring that women are no longer discriminated. The author has however, expressed dislike of the current us of term feminism. She states that, “Feminism is a luxury for the west and not for African women.” This statement clearly shows the purpose of feminism has been diluted; the term feminism is referred to with contempt and its users are not sure anymore of what it means.
Kamau, Nyokabi. “Perceptions of Feminism and its effect on voter conscientiousness–A Kenyan Woman‟ s Perspective.” St Paul’s University: Kenya (2011). 2-7
The author of this paper outlines brings a new perspective to light. According to the author, in Kenya feminism is a concept that is facilitated by politicians in order to have many votes. Some Kenyan politicians who were women explained how they exploited the idea of feminism to get elective positions. However, these women facilitate the passing women related bills in parliament. These women politicians have enabled the passing of the following acts; the sexual offences laws, the increases in the maternity leave and allowed the introduction of paternity leave. According to the author these women face a lot of opposition from their male counterparts. On the platform some of the women who were politicians did not take notice of any gender inequality in the parliament. The writer of this document has assisted the reader to have a new view of how feminism can assist the community.
- Kamau, Nyokabi. “Perceptions of Feminism and its effect on voter conscientiousness–A Kenyan Woman‟ s Perspective.” St Paul’s University: Kenya (2011). 2-7
- Ahikire, Josephine. “African feminism in context: Reflections on the legitimation battles, victories and reversals.” Feminist Africa 19 Pan-Africanism and Feminism (2014): 7-23
- Okome, Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké. “African Women and Power: Labor, Gender and Feminism in the Age of Globalization.” SAGE Race Relations Abstracts. Vol. 30. No. 2. 2005. 5-10
- Mikell, G, ed. “African Feminism”: The Politics of Survival in Sub-Saharan Africa. University of Pennsylvania Press, (2010) 25-294
- Oyewumi, O, ed. “African Gender Studies: A Reader”: Theoretical Questions and Conceptual Issues. Palgrave Macmillan US, (2005) 145- 378