Free Reading Responses Black Women In Feminism And The Media Essay Sample

Part A:

It has been an interesting experience reading “Dialoguing Women” by Nwando Achebe and Bridget Teboh as well as “Gender after Africa” by Eileen Boris. The readings offer a unique and challenging analysis on the subject of African gender issues.
Achebe and Teboh explore the feelings of the African American women, and what is going on in their mind. Both offer views on the African American-ness, based on the studies on their native countries, but one can see the parallels and variances in their ideas. Igbo is seen struggling with the reality she encounters in the life around her as a woman and her own identity within. Both are aware of their country Africa and their role as an individual of their society. They carry an image of themselves that does not meet the one their society draws for them. As it is, there is very little involvement expected or seen from the African women in their society. Their place is still seen at home and responsible for the family planning. Despite the changes in their socioeconomic status, life is still not easy for them. The women here are looked down upon not only by the males of the society but also other women.
After going through “Gender After Africa,” I feel that Boris has done a good job of explaining the biological and the social aspects that influence the feminist thoughts. I agree with the author that the term “Gender” was created to help make the sexual difference, but not to divide lines between the men and women in the society or have different and well defined roles set for them. It is interesting to read the liberated views of a white female write on the subject of gender being used a power in the society. She has given several examples of the distinctions laid by the biological and social meaning of gender. She mentions at one place in her writing as to how in colonial Zimbabwe, the law required only men to have documents and identity cards that distinguished the Africans from the Europeans.
Most African women, like many other women in other countries, face a variety of constraints that could be social, legal or economic. African countries definitely have not served their women well and here, the women have to seek approval from the men in their families first.

Part B:

Link:
http://ccafs.cgiar.org/blog/gender-agriculture-climate-change-and-policy-responses-africa#.VMC_29KUdkU
Follow the above link to learn about the role of African women in Agriculture and how they, despite being directly engaged as primary food producers, do not hold any say in the ownership and decision-making. They carry a strong knowledge and expertise of growing crops, but the formal education is slow in reaching them and thus change the gender relations. However, in some communities in Africa, the role of women and their contribution to family’s food security is gradually becoming recognized.