The Power Within: Decolonising Women’s Economic Narratives
Given the traditional expectations placed on women as carers and their prevalence in the casual labour industries, it is evident that women are disproportionately susceptible to greater economic, social, and political shortcomings; this was particularly pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it amplified pre-existing gender disparities magnifying inequalities in society. Additionally, the pandemic showed us that crises provide opportunities to revisit previously overlooked possibilities for development in Africa, A chance to thoroughly reassess the fundamental tenets and conceptual frameworks that form the basis of the economic advancement of women, both in policy and reality. As a result, the urgency of arguments around the decolonisation of colonialist and capitalist-oriented programmes for growth and development has escalated significantly. Some of these thoughts can be embraced in the global South to incorporate cross-cultural ideas, practices, and trends, hence fostering the development of epistemologies from the global South as the norm.
Decolonisation necessitates the deliberate incorporation of doctrines of knowledge, methods of understanding, and real-life events that have been historically disregarded or marginalised. This prompts us to think critically about the correlation between one’s origin and sense of self. So how can we transition from a dominant or occidental view of women’s economic empowerment tied to traditions that have their roots in imperialism in Africa to a system that is more comprehensive and encompassing? One that acknowledges, safeguards, and enhances the rights and agency of African women, embracing their various identities and experiences.
