Transforming Capitalism and Patriarchy: Gender and Development in Africa

Using insights from feminist theory and political economy, Gordon examines the implications for women of current economic and political reform efforts in Africa. Much of the work on women in Africa argues that patriarchy and capitalism have collaborated in the exploitation and control of women to support dependent capitalist development; therefore, both are antithetical to the interests of women. Dependent capitalist development, however, has been a failure. And now, Gordon contends, the interests of patriarchy—in its current form in Africa—and capitalism no longer coincide. Further capitalist expansion requires improving the status of women, who now have a window of opportunity to and alter patriarchal structures. Nevertheless, the mutuality of capitalist and feminist interests is only partial. Gordon points out that, if women are to avoid merely substituting one form of patriarchy for another (i.e., that typical of Western capitalist societies), they must develop new strategies and alliances to shape a future beyond dependent capitalist and patriarchal inequalities.