Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313385445)

This exhaustive exploration of the sociocultural, political, and economic roles of African women through history demonstrates how African women have shaped--and continue to shape--their societies.

Women play essential, critical roles in every society; African women south of the Sahara are certainly no different. Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa adds significantly to our understanding of the ways in which women contribute to the fabric of human civilization.

This book provides an in-depth exploration of African women's roles in society from precolonial periods to the contemporary era. Topical sections describe the roles that women play in family, courtship and marriage, religion, work, literature and arts, and government. Each of the six chapters has been structured to elucidate women's roles and functions in society as partners, as active participants, as defenders of their status and occupations, and as agents of change. Authors Nana Akua Amponsah and Toyin Falola present a thought-provoking work that looks at the complicated victimhood/powerful-female paradigm in women and gender studies in Africa, and challenge ideological interest in African historiography that privilege male representation.

Author: Toyin Falola, Nana Akua Amponsah
ISBN-10: 0313385440
ISBN-13: 9780313385445
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 01/06/2012
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.10w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 04/01/2012 pg. 91
Choice 08/01/2012