African women in towns : an aspect of Africa's social revolution

Digitized archiveThis 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. The Literature Available For This Book Is Very Rich In Certain Aspects Of African Women's Urban Position; But It Would Have Been Difficult To Provide Much Of The Necessary Perspective Without The Aid Of Several Studies Which Are As Yet Unpublished. The Urban Situation -- Women As Migrants -- Women In The Urban Economy -- Women's Urbanization Through Voluntary Associations -- Women In The Political Arena -- 'walk-about Women' -- The World Of Lovers -- Courtship And Social Mobility -- Wife Versus Lineage -- Matrimonial Power, Parity, And Partnership -- Conclusions. Kenneth Little. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 219-229).