Gender, race, class and religion. Feminist theories in Africa

general courses

Good command of spoken and written English.

Classroom

The seminar offers an overview of key texts in African feminist thought. Its subject is feminist theories in Africa and their internal variations. At the same time, the class will focus on the main unifying threads of feminist thought in Africa and the recurring argumentation within them. A key question concerns the specificity of African feminism: its relation to postcolonial approaches, black feminism and intersectionalism.

The theme of the course will be the internal variation of feminist theories in Africa.At the same time, we will also look for major themes and recurring styles of

of argumentation in texts by African feminists. A key question concerns the specificity of African feminism: its relation to postcolonial approaches, black feminism and intersectionalism.

The class will discuss the history and evolution of African feminist thought growing out of a critique of white, Western feminism.

The seminar offers an overview of key texts presenting feminist theories in Africa such as womanism, stiwanism, nego-feminism, and Africana womanism, among others.

The internal diversity of feminist theories in Africa will be a theme of the course. Our readings will also be diverse: articles, essays, polemics, interviews. The course will also include online presentations by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Stella Nyanzi and Sylvi Tamale, among others.

At the same time, we will also look for major themes and recurring styles of

of argumentation in the texts of African feminists. A key question concerns the specificity of African feminism: its relation to postcolonial approaches, black feminism and intersectionalism.

Amadiume, Ifi. 1987. Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society. London: Zed Press. (selected chapters)

Aidoo, Ama Ata. 1990. "We were feminists in Africa first." w: Index on Censorship 19.9, pp. 17-18.

Arndt, Susan. 2000. "African Gender Trouble and African Womanism: An Interview with Chikwenye Ogunyemi and Wanjira Muthoni". Signs, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 709-726.

Arnfred, Signe (ed.). 2004. Re-thinking sexualities in Africa. Nordic Africa Institute. (selected chapters)

Emecheta, Buchi. 1988. "Feminism with a Small 'f'!" w: Petersen, Kirsten H. (ed.) Criticism and Ideology: Second African Writers' Conference. Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, pp. 173-85.

Hudson-Weems, Clenora. 1997. "Africana Womanism and the Critical Need for Africana Theory and Thought" w: The Western Journal in Black Studies, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 79-84.

Kolawole, Mary Ebun Modupe. 1997. Womanism and African consciousness. Trenton, N.J.: Africa World Press. (selected chapters)

Nnaemeka, Obioma (ed.). 1998. Sisterhood, feminisms and power: from Africa to the diaspora. Trenton, Asmara: Africa World Press. (selected chapters)

Nnaemeka, Obioma. 2004. "Nego-Feminism: Theorizing, Practicing, and Pruning Africa’s Way" w: Signs, Vol. 29, No. 2, 357-385.

Ogundipe-Leslie, Molara. 1994. Recreating Ourselves. African Women and Critical Transformation. Trenton: Africa World Press, Inc. (selected chapters)

Ogunyemi, Chikwenye Okonjo. 1985. „Womanism: The Dynamics of the Contemporary Black Female Novel in English” w: Signs, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 63-80.

Oyewumi, Oyeronke. 1997. The Invention of Women. Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses. Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press. (selected chapters)

Oyewumi, Oyeronke (ed.). 2003. African Women and Feminism. Reflecting on Politics of Sisterhood. Trenton: Africa World Press. (selected chapters)

Salo, Elaine i Amina Mama. 2001. "Talking about Feminism in Africa" w: Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, No. 50, pp. 58-63.

Tamale, Sylvia (ed.). 2011. African Sexualities. A Reader. Pambazuka Press. (selected chapters)

Tamale, Sylvia. 2020. Decolonization and Afro-Feminism. Ottawa: Daraja Press. (selected chapters)

Recommended supplementary literature:

Alice Walker, "In search of our mothers' gardens: womanist prose"

Chandra T. Mohanty, "Under Western eyes: Feminist scholarship and colonial discourses", Boundary 2: 333-358

M.L. Andersen, P.H. Collins (ed.), "Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology"

Margot Badran, 2002 “Islamic Feminism: What’s in a Name?” [online] http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/international/Islamic-Feminism-01.html.

P. H. Collins, S. Bilge, "Intersectionality"

Alumnus

- knows and understands the broader historical, cultural and political context for the history and development of African feminist thought;

- has a structured detailed knowledge of theories of African feminism;

- has knowledge of the content of the source texts discussed;

- is able to use concepts of feminist theory;

- is able to apply the acquired knowledge in typical professional situations;

- is able to formulate his/her own opinions and conclusions, orally and in writing;

- has the ability to argue substantively using the views of other authors;

- is able to understand and explain complex theoretical arguments;

- is able to collect, process and present material on a narrow topic to a group.

- understands the need for lifelong learning;

- is able to interact and work as part of a team, establishing contacts and building social relations;

- is able to express his/her own views coherently and clearly, while showing respect for the views of others;

- is aware of cultural diversity and its religious, philosophical, moral and historical origins, as well as its significance for understanding the contemporary world;

- sees the need for intercultural dialogue.

Components of the final assessment:

1. attendance and activity in class

2. final paper - written statement.

Does not concern.