Gender and Women in Post Colonial African History
Matt McMurtry
260565536
Vincenza Mazzeo
April 9th, 2014
HIST 201
Gender and Women in Post-Colonial African History
Following the collective colonization of Africa in the 19th and 20th century, the colonizing empires undertook a mission to instill the cultural, economic, and political aspects of their respective kingdoms. In particular, they tried to introduce the idea of European gender roles in African societies and to instill ‘appropriate’ forms of social organization, with the centralized philosophy being male superiority. 1 Gender and women in post-colonial Africa are a primary aspect of the transitioning African society and political landscape. Gender dynamics are at the root of many national uprisings, social movements, economic evolutions, and many other important aspects of African society. During neo-colonialism in Africa, women were subject to confined roles in society and were often treated to horrendous abuse. However, at the core of gender studies in African history, women are represented with two contradictory descriptions: women as victim, and women as heroines. 2 It is the latter in which representation is cast as women who are feisty, self-reliant, assertive heroes. Through this lens it is important to understand the role that significant women played in post-colonial African society. Nationalist historical writings rarely entertained the idea of “women” as a social category, ignoring the abundant evidence of African women’s activist and organizational strength in many parts of the continent. Furthermore, historians complicate our understandings of colonialism, demonstrating that most often colonialists sought to confine women to the domestic sphere; others provided women with valuable skills that opened new political opportunities. Therefore, issues of gender and women in post-colonial African history can be said to be effects of the colonial influence on Africa. This gender dynamic legacy of colonial Africa has left an influential legacy on
260565536
Vincenza Mazzeo
April 9th, 2014
HIST 201
Gender and Women in Post-Colonial African History
Following the collective colonization of Africa in the 19th and 20th century, the colonizing empires undertook a mission to instill the cultural, economic, and political aspects of their respective kingdoms. In particular, they tried to introduce the idea of European gender roles in African societies and to instill ‘appropriate’ forms of social organization, with the centralized philosophy being male superiority. 1 Gender and women in post-colonial Africa are a primary aspect of the transitioning African society and political landscape. Gender dynamics are at the root of many national uprisings, social movements, economic evolutions, and many other important aspects of African society. During neo-colonialism in Africa, women were subject to confined roles in society and were often treated to horrendous abuse. However, at the core of gender studies in African history, women are represented with two contradictory descriptions: women as victim, and women as heroines. 2 It is the latter in which representation is cast as women who are feisty, self-reliant, assertive heroes. Through this lens it is important to understand the role that significant women played in post-colonial African society. Nationalist historical writings rarely entertained the idea of “women” as a social category, ignoring the abundant evidence of African women’s activist and organizational strength in many parts of the continent. Furthermore, historians complicate our understandings of colonialism, demonstrating that most often colonialists sought to confine women to the domestic sphere; others provided women with valuable skills that opened new political opportunities. Therefore, issues of gender and women in post-colonial African history can be said to be effects of the colonial influence on Africa. This gender dynamic legacy of colonial Africa has left an influential legacy on
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