Post Africa(n) Feminism?

Citation:

Mekgwe, Pinkie. 2010. “Post Africa(n) Feminism?” Third Text Third Text 24 (2): 189–94.

Author: Pinkie.Mekgwe

Abstract:

The growing body of literature authored by women in Africa and the African Diaspora over the past four decades has been accompanied by vigorous debates out of which has evolved a body of theories pertaining to African Feminism(s). Theoretical models such as 'Third World Feminism,' 'African Feminism,' 'Womanism,' 'Stiwanism,' 'Afrikana Womanism' and 'Nego-feminism,' amongst others, have responded to the anomalies exhibited by mainstream feminism, particularly its inability to address the cultural specificities out of which 'other' feminisms are theorised. The focus of this article has arisen out of the realisation that while such theories are invaluable to the development of feminist discourse, they have tended to focus predominantly on the politics of naming associated with the term 'feminism.' The author seeks to problematise the term 'Africa(n)' as normatively inscribed in the prevailing discourse. The interrogation of the term Africa(n) is pertinent to the development of a theoretical model that will complement and enhance activist efforts in present-day Africa and rescue the embattled image of Africa as captured in the epigraph to this article.

Topics: Feminisms, Gender, Women Regions: Africa

Year: 2010