The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle, by Martha Akawa

The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle, by Martha Akawa. Basler Afrika Bibliographien. Basel, 2014. ISBN 9783905758269 / ISBN 978-3-905758-26-9

The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle, by Martha Akawa. Basler Afrika Bibliographien. Basel, 2014. ISBN 9783905758269 / ISBN 978-3-905758-26-9

Women’s contributions against apartheid under the auspices of the Namibian liberation movement SWAPO and their personal experiences in exile take center stage in Martha Akawa's study about gender politics.

Martha Akawa  

In reflecting on our past, we should be concerned about the way in which we have interpreted women's participation in and contribution to society and their social realities. Men and women experience life differently not because of their biology but rather due to historical social factors, which determine the differences and obscure women's history and experiences. History has been written and interpreted by men and what has been recorded was about what men have done and experienced. But we know that women's participation has been crucial for the maintenance of our societies and for the success of the liberation struggles. In her book Tears of Courage: Five Mothers, Five Stories, One Victory, Ellen Ndeshi Namhila recounted the lives of five women and the book opened my eyes to the silence surrounding women in the liberation struggle despite their personal sacrifices and contributions to the struggle.' We argued and rightfully so that, although women suffered triple oppression of race, class and gender, we are fighting the struggle to be human beings first and foremost and that after we achieved liberation, we will address the issues of gender equality. We argued too that African women are not passive beneficiaries of harmful customs but they fought against them in their own way. We also maintained that feminism must take into account all women's experiences, including Black women, women in the liberation struggles and those in the developing world, to ensure that feminism remains relevant and speaks to the experiences of all women. Today one wonders whether by not having addressed the gender issue and placing it firmly on the liberation agenda, women might have inadvertently been complacent in upholding the patriarchal system, which oppresses them. In preparing this Preface, I re-read parts of the three volumes of the African Liberation Reader which I acquired during the struggle. I referred to them whenever I was confronted with some issues or in preparing public statements. But now as I re-read them I am struck by the absence of writings on women or by women. There is clear recognition of class and race but a lack of attention to gender issues. This was simply because gender inequality was not a priority to be addressed then and that gender equality will be achieved when countries gain their independence. Following Namibia's independence in 1990, there was a great expectation of gender equality and that women and men would enjoy respect for their human rights. Freedom meant freedom from centuries of human rights denial which left Black people, including women, marginalized and on the fringes of society. However, it is evident today that there remains a gap between gender equality in law as enshrined in our Constitution and equality in practices. This is because discrimination against women and their subordination is not merely the result of colonialism but, most importantly, because of the patriarchal nature of societies. For example, an understanding of patriarchal society is fundamental in dealing with issues of violence against women and the control over their bodies and their being treated as property through practices such as lobola. (...)

This is an excerpt from the book: The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle, by Martha Akawa.

Title: The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle
Author: Martha Akawa
Series: Basel Namibia Studies Series 13
Publisher: Basler Afrika Bibliographien
Basel, 2014
ISBN 9783905758269 / ISBN 978-3-905758-26-9
Softcover, 17x24 cm, 230 pages, several photos, Text: English

Akawa, Martha im Namibiana-Buchangebot

The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle

The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle

The study The gender politics of the Namibian liberation struggle introduces women’s contributions against apartheid and their personal experiences.

Re-Viewing Resistance in Namibian History

Re-Viewing Resistance in Namibian History

Re-Viewing Resistance in Namibian History brings together the output of experienced academics and a new wave of Namibian historians.

Weitere Buchempfehlungen

Here Be Lions - A memoir. not suitable for children

Here Be Lions - A memoir. not suitable for children

Courageous journey towards healing and restoration from child abuse

Unravelling Taboos. Gender and Sexuality in Namibia

Unravelling Taboos. Gender and Sexuality in Namibia

19 essays seek to unravel the misconceptions surrounding the concepts of gender equality, sexuality and sexual rights in Namibia

Women and custom in Namibia

Women and custom in Namibia

Is so called cultural practice surpressing gender equality in Namibia? The study Women and custom in Namibia seeks for answers and perspectives.

Frauen im Neuen Südafrika

Frauen im Neuen Südafrika

Frauen im Neuen Südafrika ist eine Analyse zur gender-Gerechtigkeit in der sich dynamisch verändernden Gesellschaft Südafrikas.

Gender and Colonialism: A History of Kaoko in North-Western Namibia 1870s-1950s

Gender and Colonialism: A History of Kaoko in North-Western Namibia 1870s-1950s

Gender and Colonialism: A History of Kaoko in North-Western Namibia 1870s-1950s is an attempt to convey a multi-faceted history of a region that has only recently been tied into a national historiography.

Strange Nervous Laughter

Strange Nervous Laughter

Intriguing blend of lyricism, this is about love and friendship, relationships, sex, food and Durban