Feminist Voices From Africa

Abstract

This chapter is an extension of intersectionality and post-modernist theories of feminism introduced in Chapter 8, now giving special focus to the African continent. The chapter argues that the African female is not only vastly different from the Western female (given the different socio-economic, political, and cultural structures), but also very different from each other as determined by contextual differences within the continent. The chapter starts from the angle that although Africa might have passed through almost similar history of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism, the continent is very diverse. To talk of an ‘African feminism' can be seen as essentialising Africa and suggesting that all women living in Africa face the same problems. Thus, Africa cannot be treated as a single entity. Hence, instead of settling for the term “African feminism,” this chapter opted for “Feminist Voices from Africa” as the title.