Mapping constructs of gender in research on Igbo women in Nigeria: embracing a southern feminist theoretical perspective

ABSTRACT

Southern feminist theorists make a pertinent call for the democratisation of knowledge between the North and the South. In this article, we embrace a southern perspective in feminist theory while embarking on a genealogical analysis of gender constructs in research about Igbo women in South-Eastern Nigeria. In that sense, the study of gender constructs within feminist scholarship is itself a major source of inspiration. We therefore throw light on how the social position of Igbo women has been theorised by Western anthropologists and historians and discuss the different strands in African and Nigerian scholarship that are concerned with reappropriating and theorising the social position of Igbo women. Our wide-ranging analysis shows, surprisingly, that both Northern and Southern feminist theorists ironically tend to reproduce and reinforce the colonial perspective. We therefore argue that historically, geographically, contextually and culturally grounded forms of knowledge should be produced, exchanged and imagined.

KEYWORDS:

• Women
• postcolonial theory
• post-structural theory
• difference and diversity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Uchechukwu Uchendu is a doctoral research student, affiliated to the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Griet Roets is professor in social work, affiliated to the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Michel Vandenbroeck is professor in family pedagogy, affiliated to the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.