Between Autonomy and Solidarity: An African Woman’s Autoethnography

Abstract:As an infant, my grandmother chewed my food for me because I was not capable of chewing on my own. As an adult, most African men still want to chew my food for me. So, how do African women consent to research when culturally they must surrender their autonomy? We join in solidarity and create our own collective autonomy. We know the rules of our patriarchal society and outwardly adhere to them. As an ethicist, I (Caroline Kithinji) have developed a sense of responsibility and solidarity with female research subjects; we collaborate in the full understanding of our lack of autonomy.