The African Legal Feminist’s Perspective on Women’s Human Rights Abuses

Upheaval on the desire for women’s rights to be treated more seriously than what was obtainable within many societies has fostered the continuous drive of feminists, who continue to differentiate their ordeals across regions. Though African feminism is feminism, the African feminists demands a separate mirror to view what they consider an African struggle. The reality of the feminist movement in Africa is pronounced not merely by the position of laws, but the rumpus caused by defined social values and cultural ideals promoted unflinchingly by patriarchy. In uncovering the true objective of the African legal feminist, this paper rummages through opinions and into the legal quagmire that African legal feminists now face in the never-ending task of pursing women’s human rights. It was found that while not all men undermine women, African men generally contribute to the masculine rule and feminine subordination, and this attitude is a result of social constructions and not biological misgivings. Therefore, the legal feminist cannot only seek to influence laws that protect women’s rights and punish offenders alone, but also enquire into gender-responsive enforcement systems, cultural and socio-legal biases, and policy constrictions. The struggle for protection of women from abuse must move beyond a focus on the letters of the law alone. These are the daily scuffles of the African legal feminist.