Women and Collective Action in Africa : Development, Democratization, and Empowerment, with Special Focus on Sierra Leone / by F. Steady.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steady, Filomina Chioma.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Race.

Chemistry, Organic.

Africa--Politics and government.

Africa.

Anthropology.

Ethnology--Africa.

Ethnology.

Culture.

Sociology.

Race and Ethnicity Studies.

Organic Chemistry.

African Politics.

African Culture.

Local Subjects:

Race and Ethnicity Studies.

Organic Chemistry.

African Politics.

Anthropology.

African Culture.

Sociology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (224 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2006.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan US : Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book examines women's movements and women's collective action in Africa. Steady begins her examination in pre-colonial times, moving through the colonial period to the present. She looks at the various arenas which collective action has and can influence, comparing the impact on economic growth, education, democratizations, family formation, and women's rights. Steady uses Sierra Leone as the focus of her inquiry, in order for a detailed story to illustrate larger themes, but in every area makes comparisons to different parts of Africa; the case study here guides a larger inquiry. Written as a text, the book carefully explains the theoretical ideas (e.g., all key terms are defined, and then there is a discussion of how they relate to African issues specifically) and the historical knowledge (e.g., all historical events are described, there is no assumption of knowledge of African history) necessary to understand the meaning of current women's groups. What results is a clear and comprehensive treatment of an issue which is increasingly central to understanding changes taking place on the African continent today.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgment

Acronyms

Chapter One: The Challenge and Conceptual Framework

Introduction

The Challenge

Review of Relevant Concepts and Theories

Definition, Nature, and Origin

Collective Identities

Institutional Manifestations

Women's Collective Action and Social Movement Theory

The Nexus of Collective Action and Reaction: A Conceptual Model

The Development-Underdevelopment Nexus

The Democratization-Authoritarianism Nexus

Empowerment

Chapter Two: The Context and Background

The People

Social Organization

Women's Associations in Freetown

Trends in Women's Associations

Tensions Between International and Local NGOs

Federations and Associations of National Unity

Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations

National Policy for Women

Results of a PostWar Survey on Focus Groups

Chapter Three: Collective Action for Political Empowerment

Authoritarianism, War, and Economic Decline

Women, Democratization, and the Quest for Peace

The Role of Women's Associations, Especially the Women's Forum

The National Commission for Democracy

National Conferences on Democratization

Female Activism in the 1996 Elections-A Test of Unity

Gender Bias in the Body Politic

1997 Coup d'Etat and Escalation of the War

The Peace Process Renewed

Militarism, Peacekeepers, and Gender Vulnerabilities

End of the War, the 50/50 Group and the 2002 Election

The Impact of Women on Democratization and the Peace Process

Chapter Four: Collective Action for Economic Empowerment

Economic Profile of Women in Freetown

Management and Decision-Making Positions

Women's Economic Associations

The Women's Movement

The Gara Thrift and Credit Society and Similar Associations.

Rotating Credit Associations-Indigenous Mechanisms for Micro-Credit

Cooperatives

Chapter Five: Collective Action for Educational and Occupational Empowerment

Gendered Education

Contributions of Individual Women to Female Education

Education and Female Professional Advancement

Educational Challenges for Women

The Educational Role of Women's Associations

Vocational Education

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)

Kankalay

Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)-Sierra Leone Chapter

Guilds, Professional Associations, and Alumnae Associations

Female Education and Socioeconomic Development

Human Resource Development

Chapter Six: "Traditional" Associations

Secret Societies

Poro and Sande

Sande/Bondo Female Society

Sande and Social Change

The Urbanized Secret

Sande and the Health Care System

Female Circumcision: A Global Practice

Social Change, Female Circumcision, and Controversies

The Enduring Features of Sande

Chapter Seven: Mutual-Aid Associations

Secret Society Affiliation

Tensions Between Statutory and Customary Marriages

Imposition of Moral Sanctions

Multiple Mothering

Recreational Activities

Promoting Solidarity and Political Expression

Chapter Eight: Islam and Women's Associations

Women and Islam

Limitations of Islamic Influence on Social Institutions

Examples of Muslim Women's Associations

Political Links Through Hajas

Chapter Nine: Christianity and Women's Associations

Christian Women's Associations

Mobilizing Resources

Maintaining the Ideology of Womanhood and Christian Marriage

Promoting Healing

Facilitating the Power of Prayer

Female Charisma and Religious Leadership

Promoting Unity.

Chapter Ten: Comparative Insights at the National Level

The Role of the State

Nationalism

Religious Fundamentalism and Democratization

Summary

Chapter Eleven: Comparative Insights at the Regional/Pan-African and International Levels

Conflict Prevention and Peace Building

The Contribution of African Women to the International Women's Movement

Chapter Twelve: Conclusion

Engendering and Enhancing Development and Democratization

Notes

Bibliography

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

Index of People's Names

Index of Place Names

Z.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [179]-199) and index.

ISBN:

9786611368166

9781281368164

1281368164

9781403979490

1403979499

OCLC:

437187521