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and how have they capitalised/should they capitalise on this in order
to create further rooms for manoeuvre for themselves?
B. Cooperation
i. Strategic positioning – a paradigmatic shift from wrestling the
phallus to exploring cooperation with pro-feminist men
With certitude young African women cannot go it alone. There is need
for cooperation at several fronts. These can be conceptualised as the
formation of transformative alliances. A strategic positioning has to
be envisaged whereby young women have to be aware of hegemonic
masculine structures. Sadly, these are being perpetuated not only by
men but more so by women themselves (see Tamale 1999 and Sall
2000 for an analysis of such structures in the public sphere and in
the academy respectively). In my opinion, a paradigmatic shift has
to occur. This, I envisage as a shift from wrestling the phallus (which
earlier generation feminists had embraced) to exploring opportunities
of transformative alliances being offered by especially pro-feminist
men and who are taking over positions of influence in the governance
structures. Already some female networks – for example FEMNET [7]
are working with ‘Men to Men’ agendas. Nevertheless, this cooperation
and alliance does not mean that women are not better placed to address
structures that oppress them and bring about significant changes. It
rather means the negotiation with men about changing structures
that perpetuate inequalities. It is here that indeed power within has
to be exercised. Thus, the communicative practice becomes of major
importance. This means being aware of the secret codes of behaviour,
the use of language and conduct that exhibits a certain kind of stance
and that pushes forward a transformative agenda and which contributes
to a positive change in governance and policy issues. Conceptually, it
culminates to exercising women’s agency through appealing to social
relations in a gendered manner.
167
YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN
ENGAGE THE PUBLIC
SPHERE; PROSPECTS FOR
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY
INQUIRY?
Roseline M. Achieng
7
FEMNET is the acronym of African Women’s Development and Communications
Network