The feminization of development processes in Africa : current and future perspectives

257 Pages·1999·12.67 MB·English

by  Valentine Udoh James

The Feminization of
Development Processes
in Africa
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The Feminization of
Development Processes
in Africa
Current and Future Perspectives
Edited by
Valentine Udoh James
and James S. Etim

PRAEGER Westport, Connectcut
London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The feminization of development processes in Africa : current and
future perspectives / edited by Valentine Udoh James and James S.
Etim.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-275-95946-5 (alk. paper)
1. Women in development—Africa. 2. Women in public life—Africa.
3. Feminism—Africa. I. James, Valentine Udoh, 1952-
II. Etim, James.
HQ1240.5.A35F45 1999
305.42'096—dc21 98-19300
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 1999 by Valentine Udoh James and James S. Etim
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-19300
ISBN: 0-275-95946-5
First published in 1999
Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 32
To the people of Ikot-Ekpene, Nigeria
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Contents
Illustrations ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
I. Introduction 1
1 Trends and Conundrums in the Feminization
of Development Processes in Africa 3
Valentine Udoh James

II. Sociopolitical Development Processes 15
2 Women and Politics in Nigeria: An Appraisal 17
Kofi Johnson and R. Babatunde Oyinade
3 Women's Empowerment and the Anthropology
of Participatory Development 31
Ester Igandu Njiro
4 Looking at African Women: Media Representations
of Feminism, Human Rights, and Development 51
Amy Beer and Christine List
Vlll Contents
5 The State and Feminization of Developmental
Processes in West Africa 67
Ifeyinwa E. Umerah-Udezulu
6 Historical Women in the Fight for Liberation 95
Felix K. Ekechi
7 Gender-Based Discrimination in Housing and
Urban Development Policies in Cameroon 113
Ambe J. Njoh
8 The State and Integration of Women in Ibo:
Patriarchy and Gender Advancement 131
Ifeyinwa E. Umerah-Udezulu
III. Educational, Economic, and Institutional
Development 145
9 Women's Education in Nigeria: Improving Trends 147
James S. Etim
10 African Women in the Development Process:
Business and Computer Technology Issues 167
Alice Etim
11 Women in the Mobilization and Allocation of
Household Savings in Developing Countries:
Promoting Interlinks between Women's
Indigenous Savings Groups and Community
Banks in Nigeria 181

Noble J. Nweze
12 Women and Development in West Africa:
Traditional Views in Contemporary Literature 199
Anthonia C. Kalu
13 Development and Women's Writings from
Southern and Northern Africa 215
Victoria Carchidi
Index 229
About the Contributors 239
Illustrations
FIGURES
3.1 Research Sites around Mount Kenya 34
3.2 The Interrelated Factors Affecting Women' s
Well-Being 44
TABLES
1.1 Planning Procedures to Operationalize Women
in Development (WID) 11
3.1 Eating Order by Households 37
3.2 Reasons for E ating Order 37
3.3 Division of Labor in Tunyai 40
5.1 West African Women on the UN Professional Staff 76
5.2 Percent of Parliamentary Seats Occupied by
Women, 1994 77
5.3 Percentage of West African Women in Decision-Making
Positions in Government Ministries 80
5.4 Indicators on West African Women's Economic
Activity Professional Groups, 1990 87
5.5 Percentage Distribution of West African Women
in Labor Force, 1990 88
5.6 Indicators on the Economy and Women's Work:
Percentage Distribution of Labor Force by
Gender, 1994 89