6SSG3040_CW1
6SSG3040 – Directed Readings in:
6SSG3080 - Gender and Development
Directed Reading Essay
Evaluate the importance of a decolonial feminist perspective in the
understanding of rights to abortion in Sub-Saharan Africa
03/05/21
75/100
Word count: 4000
, 6SSG3040_CW1
Table of Contents:
Glossary: 2
Introduction 3
Decolonial feminism 3
Sub-Saharan Africa and Feminism 6
Christianity and Feminism in Africa 7
Abortion 9
Sub-Saharan Africa 10
Conclusions 13
Reference List: 15
Glossary:
ICPD - International Conference on Population and Development
NGO - Non-Governmental Organisation
OHCHR - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
USAID - The United States Agency for International Development
WHO - World Health Organisation
2
, 6SSG3040_CW1
Introduction
Almost half of all the abortions performed in Africa are done so under the most
unsafe conditions globally and 62% of the worlds unsafe abortion-related deaths
happen here (Ganatra et al., 2017). That means tens of thousands of women die
every year due to social and political barriers to safe abortions (Braam and Hessini,
2004). In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the complications from these treatments cost
individuals and households a sum of US$ 200 million a year (Vlassoff et al., 2008).
These statistics are shocking, but it is important to remember that they do not exist in
a vacuum and exist within and because of historical social structures.
Decolonial feminism offers a new perspective on policies and attitudes surrounding
abortion rights, particularly in countries suffering from colonial legacies. Decolonial
feminism and sub-Saharan Africa both have unique perspectives on abortion access
due to their uniquely complicated relationship with gendered colonial power
dynamics. Decolonial feminism was formed from the need to analyse these power
struggles from a perspective incorporating intersectionality and feminism, whilst
sub-Saharan Africa is still largely dominated by pre-independence colonial laws and
ideology (Brookman-Amissah and Moyo, 2004). This essay will analyse the
importance of applying a decolonial feminist perspective to earn a deeper
understanding of the systems that inhibit access to abortion in sub-Saharan Africa,
with reference to colonialism, indigenous knowledge and Christianity.
Decolonial feminism
Feminism takes many different forms and means many different things world wide. It
is ever-evolving and faces new challenges with every advancement society makes
(Walby, 2011). Feminism has many different interpretations, feminist activist bell
hooks (2000), for example, defines it as ‘a movement to end sexism and sexist
oppression’ and, like many other feminists, considers it a practical struggle
(Finlayson, 2017). As feminism took hold in contemporary social debates,
discussions arose over the suitability of categorising all women as facing the same
struggles, as many believed that the dominant feminist theories were homogenising
the female experience (Mohanty, 2003).
3
6SSG3040 – Directed Readings in:
6SSG3080 - Gender and Development
Directed Reading Essay
Evaluate the importance of a decolonial feminist perspective in the
understanding of rights to abortion in Sub-Saharan Africa
03/05/21
75/100
Word count: 4000
, 6SSG3040_CW1
Table of Contents:
Glossary: 2
Introduction 3
Decolonial feminism 3
Sub-Saharan Africa and Feminism 6
Christianity and Feminism in Africa 7
Abortion 9
Sub-Saharan Africa 10
Conclusions 13
Reference List: 15
Glossary:
ICPD - International Conference on Population and Development
NGO - Non-Governmental Organisation
OHCHR - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
USAID - The United States Agency for International Development
WHO - World Health Organisation
2
, 6SSG3040_CW1
Introduction
Almost half of all the abortions performed in Africa are done so under the most
unsafe conditions globally and 62% of the worlds unsafe abortion-related deaths
happen here (Ganatra et al., 2017). That means tens of thousands of women die
every year due to social and political barriers to safe abortions (Braam and Hessini,
2004). In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the complications from these treatments cost
individuals and households a sum of US$ 200 million a year (Vlassoff et al., 2008).
These statistics are shocking, but it is important to remember that they do not exist in
a vacuum and exist within and because of historical social structures.
Decolonial feminism offers a new perspective on policies and attitudes surrounding
abortion rights, particularly in countries suffering from colonial legacies. Decolonial
feminism and sub-Saharan Africa both have unique perspectives on abortion access
due to their uniquely complicated relationship with gendered colonial power
dynamics. Decolonial feminism was formed from the need to analyse these power
struggles from a perspective incorporating intersectionality and feminism, whilst
sub-Saharan Africa is still largely dominated by pre-independence colonial laws and
ideology (Brookman-Amissah and Moyo, 2004). This essay will analyse the
importance of applying a decolonial feminist perspective to earn a deeper
understanding of the systems that inhibit access to abortion in sub-Saharan Africa,
with reference to colonialism, indigenous knowledge and Christianity.
Decolonial feminism
Feminism takes many different forms and means many different things world wide. It
is ever-evolving and faces new challenges with every advancement society makes
(Walby, 2011). Feminism has many different interpretations, feminist activist bell
hooks (2000), for example, defines it as ‘a movement to end sexism and sexist
oppression’ and, like many other feminists, considers it a practical struggle
(Finlayson, 2017). As feminism took hold in contemporary social debates,
discussions arose over the suitability of categorising all women as facing the same
struggles, as many believed that the dominant feminist theories were homogenising
the female experience (Mohanty, 2003).
3
