
Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa
Greenwood Press
Published on 6. January 2012
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-0-313-38544-5 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
In this wide-ranging study, emerging scholar of women's and gender history Amponsah (doctoral student, Univ. of Texas) and prolific UT historian Falola, the author or editor of more than 100 books, explore the complex roles of African women as wives and mothers, religious practitioners, workers and employers, artists and authors, government officials, and consumers and purveyors of education. . . . Summing Up: Recommended. * Choice *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Illustrations
32 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
552 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-313-38544-5 (9780313385445)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Toyin Falola | Nana Akua Amponsah
Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa
E-Book
01/2012
1st Edition
Greenwood Press
€62.49
Available for download

Toyin Falola | Nana Akua Amponsah
Women's Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa
E-Book
01/2012
Greenwood Press
€62.49
Available for download
Persons
Toyin Falola is Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial professor and a distinguished teaching professor of African history at The University of Texas, Austin, TX.
Nana Akua Amponsah is a PhD candidate of African women's history at The University of Texas, Austin, TX.
Nana Akua Amponsah is a PhD candidate of African women's history at The University of Texas, Austin, TX.
Author
Professor; Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities; University Distinguished Teaching Prof.University of Texas at Austin, USA
Content
Series Foreword
Chronology
Introduction: African Women in History
1. Women and Courtship and Marriage
2. Women and Family
3. Women and Religion
4. Women and Work
5. Women and the Arts and Literature
6. Women and Government
7. Women and Education
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Chronology
Introduction: African Women in History
1. Women and Courtship and Marriage
2. Women and Family
3. Women and Religion
4. Women and Work
5. Women and the Arts and Literature
6. Women and Government
7. Women and Education
Glossary
Bibliography
Index