Overview

Demonstrates shortcomings in Western feminist conceptualizations, and shows how insights from African feminist thinking may enhance understandings of gender, both in and beyond Africa. Winner of the 2012 gender research award KRAKA-prisen. This book is about gender politics in Mozambique over three decades from 1975 to 2005. The book is also about different ways of understanding gender and sexuality. Gender policies from Portuguese colonialism, through Frelimo socialism to later neo-liberal economic regimes share certain basic assumptions about men, women and gender relations. But to what extent do such assumptions fit the ways in which rural Mozambican men and women see themselves? A major line of argument in the book is that gender relations should be investigated, not assumed, and that policies not matching people's lives are not likely to succeed. The empirical data, on which the argument is based, are first a unique body of data material collected 1982-1984 by the national women's organization, the OMM [when the author was employed as a sociologist in the organization] and secondly data resulting from more recent fieldwork in northern Mozambique. Importantly inspired by African post-colonial feminist lines of thinking, the book engages in a project of re-mapping and re-interpreting 'cultureand tradition'. In this context, the book investigates in particular matriliny [c. 40% of Mozambique's population live under conditions of matriliny] and female initiation. The findings open new avenues for gender politics, and for re-thinking sexuality and gender - in Africa and beyond. Signe Arnfred is Associate Professor, Dept of Society & Globalization, and Centre for Gender, Power & Diversity, Roskilde University

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Makes a welcome contribution to Mozambican studies and will also interest feminists, especially those unfamiliar with the works of African feminist scholars. MODERN AFRICAN STUDIES

A fascinating and important book (and) a powerful and moving contribution to the debates around how to improve African women's lives and, hence, men's as well. It would make an effective teaching tool, and, for its sometimes combative turn of phrase among its other writing strengths, is plain enjoyable to read. AFRICAN AFFAIRS A unique and immensely valuable anthropological and historical study (that) should be considered vital to discussions both of the modern history of Mozambique and of gender politics in southern Africa and beyond. LUCAS BULLETIN The book is impressive on many fronts. To name two: as a narrative tracing changes in her thinking on gender in Africa over the years, it is a stellar example of a working scholar's self-reflexivity; and instructors seeking to introduce students to the complex, ongoing and productive debate concerning the efficacy of feminist theory in the African context will find the book very useful. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES Makes a welcome contribution to Mozambican studies and will also interest feminists, especially those unfamiliar with the works of African feminist scholars. MODERN AFRICAN STUDIES

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