African Women in Towns
An Aspect of Africa's Social Revolution

This 1973 book analyses the changing position of women in an urban context in sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenneth Little (Author)

9780521098199, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 February 1974

252 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.53 kg

This 1973 book analyses the changing position of women in an urban context in sub-Saharan Africa. In spite of the fact that women, at the time of publication, were often important leaders of opinion and in these countries the proportion of women in professional work was at least as large as in Britain, few researchers and even fewer television and newspaper reporters paid them sufficient attention. As the new role of women in Africa was peculiarly a phenomenon of the city, Professor Little's book uses the concept of urbanization in order to analyse the radical changes taking place. He shows how certain women's movements were growing out of the African woman's desire for a new relationship with the man. This leads him to consider the part played by women in the political arena, and women's position not only in monogamous marriage, but also in extra-marital and sexual relationships.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. The urban situation
2. Women as migrants
3. Women in the urban economy
4. Women's urbanization through voluntary associations
5. Women in the political arena
6. 'Walk-about women'
7. The world of lovers
8. Courtship and social mobility
9. Wife versus lineage
10. Matrimonial power, parity, and partnership
11. Conclusions
Appendix
References cited
Index.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH], Gender studies, gender groups [JFSJ], Urban communities [JFSG]