The Emancipation of Women

Book excerpt: A former head of the Ghana National Council of Women and Development here explains, from her experience in Ghana and other parts of Africa during the UN Decade for Women, what she believes women's emancipation means to women in Africa. Although discrimination against women is worldwide, she believes that because of differences in social, educational and cultural backgrounds, women have differing perceptions of the meaning of emancipation. She discusses pertinent issues such as traditional beliefs and practices which keep women subjugated, including bride-wealth, child marriage, polygamy, purdah, widowhood, inheritance of property, fertility and female circumcision. She also examines specific women-in-development activities, and the role of governmental, non-governmental and inter- governmental organizations.