AFRICAN FEMINISM AND THE POLITICS OF DIFFERENCE: CHALLENGING WESTERN NORMS THROUGH IGBO AND PAN-AFRICAN FRAMEWORKS

Abstract

This paper interrogates the presumed universality of Western feminist frameworks by exploring the lived realities of African women through Igbo and Pan-African lenses. The objective is to critically assess the inadequacy of Western feminism in addressing the complex, intersectional forms of oppression African women experience—rooted not only in patriarchy, but also in colonial legacies, economic disenfranchisement, and cultural subjugation. Using a feminist qualitative content analysis, the study draws from indigenous African feminist theorists, cultural critiques, and historical accounts to illuminate the philosophical and political underpinnings of African feminism. It also incorporates case studies of Igbo cultural practices, such as widowhood rituals and inheritance systems, to illustrate how African feminist perspectives negotiate patriarchal structures through culturally embedded forms of resistance and communal responsibility. The findings reveal that African feminism is not merely a reaction to Western models but a distinct epistemological and political project grounded in the collective realities of African women. It emphasizes negotiation over confrontation, cultural specificity over universality, and collective well-being over individual autonomy. The study concludes that meaningful feminist discourse must recognize the politics of difference and foreground African voices in the global feminist movement. This has significant implications for feminist theory and praxis, as it calls for a decolonial turn that respects cultural autonomy while dismantling oppressive traditions.