5 - Restore, Reform but do not Transform: The Gender Politics of Higher Education in Africa
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2003): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This paper uses gender analysis to reflect on the emergence and development of higher education in Africa. The available statistical picture indicates that despite the absence of formal exclusions, women’s entry into higher educational institu- tions—as students and as employees—has remained slow and uneven, suggesting the need to look beyond the numbers. The overall pattern of exclusion and marginalization is true for both administrative and academic tracks but is at its most extreme for senior academic and research positions. The persistence of extreme gender inequality is most easily and often attributed to external social and familial factors. Here, however, it is argued that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that, despite institutional and managerial claims of administrative neutrality, the institu- tional and intellectual cultures of African institutions are, in fact, permeated with sexual and gender dynamics.
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- Ajayi, J., Goma, L. & Ampah Johnson, G. (Eds.). (1996). The African Experience With Higher Education. Oxford: James Currey; Accra: Association of African Universities.
- Assie-Lumumba, N. (1993). Higher education in Francophone Africa: Assessment of the potential of traditional universities and alternatives for development.
- AFTHR Technical Note 5, Human Resources Division. Washington, DC: World Bank.
- Assie-Lumumba, N. (2001). Gender, Access to Learning and Production of Knowledge in Africa. In Visions of Gender theories and Social Development in Africa: Harnessing Knowledge for Social Justice and Equity. AAWORD/AFARD Dakar.
- Bennett, J. (2002). Exploration of a “Gap”: Strategising gender equity in African universities. Feminist Africa No 1, 34–65.
- Bertelson, E. (1998). The real transformation: The marketisation of higher education, Social Dynamics, 24(2), 130–158.
- De la Rey, C. (1997). Report on gender and higher education in South Africa Pretoria: Government Publications.
- Denzer, L. (1989). Women in government service in colonial Nigeria, 1862–1945.
- Boston University African Studies Center, Working Paper 136.
- Denzer, L. (1995). Introduction. In L. Denzer (Ed.), C.A. Cummings-John, Memoirs of a Krio Leader. Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
- Ford Foundation. (2001). Narrative Report on the Retreat on Higher Education in Africa. Prepared by G. Hamilton. Durban. 29 May–1 June.
- Gaidzanwa, R. (1997). Gender analysis in the field of education: A Zimbabwean example. In, A. Imam, A. Mama, & F. Sow (Eds.), Engendering African Social Sciences. Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Gherhardi, S. (1995). Gender, Symbolism and Organizational Cultures. London/New Delhi: Sage.
- Imam, A., Mama, A. & Sow, F. (1997). Engendering African Social Sciences. Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Kasente, D. (2001, September). Popularising Gender: A Case Study of Makerere.
- University paper commissioned for FAWE and presented at 10th General Conference of the Association of African Universities. Nairobi.
- Kasente, D. (2002). Institutionalising gender equality in African universities: Women’s and gender studies at Makerere University. Feminist Africa, 1, 91–99.
- Kwesiga, J. (2002). Women’s Access to Higher Education in Africa: Uganda’s Experience. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
- Lewis, D. (2002). African Women’s Studies 1980–2001: A Bibliography. Cape Town: African Gender Institute. http://www.gwsafrica.org.
- Makhubu, L. (1998). The Right to Higher Education and Equal Opportunity particularly for women. In Higher Education in Africa: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects. Dakar: UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa.
- Makgoba, W. (Ed.). (1991). African Renaissance: The New Struggle. Johannesburgh & Cape Town: Mafube/ Tafelburgh.
- Mama, A. (1996). Women’s Studies and Studies of Women in Africa During the 1990s. Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Mama, A. (2003). Editorial. ‘Intellectual politics’. Feminist Africa, 1, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town.
- Mamdani. M. (2002). African universities in their local and global contexts. Unpublished talk delivered at Higher Education Partnership Meeting, 18th March, Abuja, Nigeria.
- Manuh, T. (2002). Higher Education, Condition of Scholars and the Future of Development in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Bulletin, 3&4.
- Mbilizi, M. (2001). Gender equity in Malawian higher education. Paper presented at NETSH Workshop on Sexual Harassment, 14–17 July. Available from http://www.gwsafrica.org.
- Mlama, P. (2001). Gender equity programming in higher education. Paper presented at the Forum of African Women Educators meeting in Nairobi, 25 September.
- Namuddu, K. (1995). Gender perspectives in the transformation of Africa; challenges to the African university as a model to society. In Women and Higher Education in Africa. Dakar: UNESCO.
- Pereira, C. (2002a). Structured Inequalities: A Gender Analysis of the Nigerian University System. Currently in draft for the Case Studies of Nigerian Universities Project.
- Pereira, C. (2002b). Between knowing and imagining—What space for feminist scholarship on Africa? Feminist Africa, 1, 9–35. Available at www.feministafrica.org Rathberger, E. (2003). Women in Universities and University-Educated Women: The Current Situation in Africa. In D. Teferra & P. Altbach (Eds.), African Higher Education: An International Reference Handbook. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.
- Sall, E. (2000). Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA. Samoff, J. & Caroll, B (2002). The promise of partnership and continuities of dependence: external support to higher education in Africa. Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the African studies Association, Washington DC, 5–
- th December.
- Sawyerr, A. (2002). Challenges Facing African Universities: Selected Issues. Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the African studies Association. Washington, DC. 5–8th December.
- Snyder, M. (1995). Transforming Development: Women, Poverty and Politics. Intermediate Technology Publications.
- Tamale, S & Oloka-Onyango, J. (2000). Bitches at the academy: Gender and academic freedom in Africa. In E. Sall (Ed.), Women in Academia: Gender and AcTeferra, D. & Altbach, P. (Eds.). (2003). African Higher Education: An International Reference Handbook. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.
- Third World Network. (2000). National Machinery Series, 1–12. Accra: Third World Network.
- Yahya-Othman, S. (2000) Tanzania: Engendering academic freedom. In E. Sall (Ed.), Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.
- World Bank. (2002). Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education. Washington, DC: The World Bank.ademic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.
References
Ajayi, J., Goma, L. & Ampah Johnson, G. (Eds.). (1996). The African Experience With Higher Education. Oxford: James Currey; Accra: Association of African Universities.
Assie-Lumumba, N. (1993). Higher education in Francophone Africa: Assessment of the potential of traditional universities and alternatives for development.
AFTHR Technical Note 5, Human Resources Division. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Assie-Lumumba, N. (2001). Gender, Access to Learning and Production of Knowledge in Africa. In Visions of Gender theories and Social Development in Africa: Harnessing Knowledge for Social Justice and Equity. AAWORD/AFARD Dakar.
Bennett, J. (2002). Exploration of a “Gap”: Strategising gender equity in African universities. Feminist Africa No 1, 34–65.
Bertelson, E. (1998). The real transformation: The marketisation of higher education, Social Dynamics, 24(2), 130–158.
De la Rey, C. (1997). Report on gender and higher education in South Africa Pretoria: Government Publications.
Denzer, L. (1989). Women in government service in colonial Nigeria, 1862–1945.
Boston University African Studies Center, Working Paper 136.
Denzer, L. (1995). Introduction. In L. Denzer (Ed.), C.A. Cummings-John, Memoirs of a Krio Leader. Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
Ford Foundation. (2001). Narrative Report on the Retreat on Higher Education in Africa. Prepared by G. Hamilton. Durban. 29 May–1 June.
Gaidzanwa, R. (1997). Gender analysis in the field of education: A Zimbabwean example. In, A. Imam, A. Mama, & F. Sow (Eds.), Engendering African Social Sciences. Dakar: CODESRIA.
Gherhardi, S. (1995). Gender, Symbolism and Organizational Cultures. London/New Delhi: Sage.
Imam, A., Mama, A. & Sow, F. (1997). Engendering African Social Sciences. Dakar: CODESRIA.
Kasente, D. (2001, September). Popularising Gender: A Case Study of Makerere.
University paper commissioned for FAWE and presented at 10th General Conference of the Association of African Universities. Nairobi.
Kasente, D. (2002). Institutionalising gender equality in African universities: Women’s and gender studies at Makerere University. Feminist Africa, 1, 91–99.
Kwesiga, J. (2002). Women’s Access to Higher Education in Africa: Uganda’s Experience. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
Lewis, D. (2002). African Women’s Studies 1980–2001: A Bibliography. Cape Town: African Gender Institute. http://www.gwsafrica.org.
Makhubu, L. (1998). The Right to Higher Education and Equal Opportunity particularly for women. In Higher Education in Africa: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects. Dakar: UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa.
Makgoba, W. (Ed.). (1991). African Renaissance: The New Struggle. Johannesburgh & Cape Town: Mafube/ Tafelburgh.
Mama, A. (1996). Women’s Studies and Studies of Women in Africa During the 1990s. Dakar: CODESRIA.
Mama, A. (2003). Editorial. ‘Intellectual politics’. Feminist Africa, 1, African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town.
Mamdani. M. (2002). African universities in their local and global contexts. Unpublished talk delivered at Higher Education Partnership Meeting, 18th March, Abuja, Nigeria.
Manuh, T. (2002). Higher Education, Condition of Scholars and the Future of Development in Africa, Dakar: CODESRIA Bulletin, 3&4.
Mbilizi, M. (2001). Gender equity in Malawian higher education. Paper presented at NETSH Workshop on Sexual Harassment, 14–17 July. Available from http://www.gwsafrica.org.
Mlama, P. (2001). Gender equity programming in higher education. Paper presented at the Forum of African Women Educators meeting in Nairobi, 25 September.
Namuddu, K. (1995). Gender perspectives in the transformation of Africa; challenges to the African university as a model to society. In Women and Higher Education in Africa. Dakar: UNESCO.
Pereira, C. (2002a). Structured Inequalities: A Gender Analysis of the Nigerian University System. Currently in draft for the Case Studies of Nigerian Universities Project.
Pereira, C. (2002b). Between knowing and imagining—What space for feminist scholarship on Africa? Feminist Africa, 1, 9–35. Available at www.feministafrica.org Rathberger, E. (2003). Women in Universities and University-Educated Women: The Current Situation in Africa. In D. Teferra & P. Altbach (Eds.), African Higher Education: An International Reference Handbook. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.
Sall, E. (2000). Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA. Samoff, J. & Caroll, B (2002). The promise of partnership and continuities of dependence: external support to higher education in Africa. Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the African studies Association, Washington DC, 5–
th December.
Sawyerr, A. (2002). Challenges Facing African Universities: Selected Issues. Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the African studies Association. Washington, DC. 5–8th December.
Snyder, M. (1995). Transforming Development: Women, Poverty and Politics. Intermediate Technology Publications.
Tamale, S & Oloka-Onyango, J. (2000). Bitches at the academy: Gender and academic freedom in Africa. In E. Sall (Ed.), Women in Academia: Gender and AcTeferra, D. & Altbach, P. (Eds.). (2003). African Higher Education: An International Reference Handbook. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.
Third World Network. (2000). National Machinery Series, 1–12. Accra: Third World Network.
Yahya-Othman, S. (2000) Tanzania: Engendering academic freedom. In E. Sall (Ed.), Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.
World Bank. (2002). Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education. Washington, DC: The World Bank.ademic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.