Pathways to African Feminism and Development (Vol.8, Issue 1 - Dec, 2023)

Abstract

On behalf of the Editorial Board members, authors, reviewers, and those who have contributed in one way or the other in making this issue come to be, within and outside of the University of Nairobi I extend a very warm welcome to all the readers of our journal Pathways to African Feminism and Development. I am delighted to present Volume 8, Issue No.1 (Special Issue) of the Journal on the theme Harnessing Women’s Knowledge, Experiences and Contribution towards Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Development.

Without reservation, on behalf of the Editorial Board and my behalf, I extend my special appreciation and congratulations to the twelve authors whose articles are published herein - thank you for choosing to publish in our esteemed journal. I acknowledge and thank the members of the Editorial Board led by our Editor, Mrs. Anna Petkova-Mwangi, for the insights, unwavering support and focus in ensuring that the articles are professionally and timely reviewed. In a very special way, I wish to acknowledge the continued leadership of Prof. Wanjiku Kabira, particularly for her guidance and focus on ensuring that the original purpose of this esteemed journal is carried forward while ensuring the maintenance of the highest quality in processing articles for publication in every issue. As the Chairperson of the Editorial Board, I aspire to continue to work and draw on the expertise of the relevant stakeholders, particularly members of the Editorial Board and peer– reviewers to uphold seasoned decisions and processes for a quality peer-reviewed, international journal.

Equally appreciated are the readers not only for being the reason for the continuity of this journal but also because the journal would be meaningless without them. As the Editorial Board trusts your continued interest and support, we aspire to continue to make the journal more appealing and relevant, especially through the selection of thematic areas and articles for future publication issues. This special issue is the last in the year 2023, even though the logistics in the publication process may spill over to early, 2024. This issue carries a selection of very stimulating articles, demonstrating diverse ways in which women harness their knowledge, skills, and experiences to contribute to economic empowerment and sustainable development across various sectors. For instance, as socially defined caregivers, the first article on Homeschooling Experiences of Kenyan Mothers of Children with Dyslexia during the COVID-19 pandemic, brings out the experiences of mothers in caring, educating and nurturing children with dyslexia, with a lasting impact on women’s social, emotional and career development. This is followed by an article with the title, From one pandemic to another through Women’s Eyes: An Analysis of the Impacts of Kenya’s Response to HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 offering an interesting reading on the impact of the two remarkable pandemics, on women in their unique and diverse situations in the society. An article titled Deconstructing Gender-Based Violence from Kenyan Soap Narratives, Unveiling the Nexus between Syndemics, Women’s Health, and Transformative Change brings out the interplay between media narratives and women’s health through an analysis of two soap operas. The next article, titled The Trilogy of the Coronavirus Disease, Religion and the Health of African Women interrogates the experiences of African women from the perspective of religious-based gender inequalities and the management of the coronavirus, raising concerns about how the perceived subordinate position of women, as compared to their male counterparts, diminishes the chances of women from participating in health-related decisions that directly affect them.

An interesting article focusing on the Health Insurance Enrolment and Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services among Women in Kenya, presents the experiences of women in Kenya, in the context of the current reforms in the health sector and particularly increased health insurance uptake. This is followed by an article that reaffirms the role of women as producers, processors, and managers of food in the households, titled Participation of Women Small Holder Farmers in a Food Production Program: The Panacea to Household Food Security? As if to complement the analysis, the following article presents a desk-reviewed study analysing the experiences and inclusivity of women in agriculture, based on the Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Intervention for Inclusive and Sustainable Development. This is followed by a write-up on Media Framing of Women in Business: An Analysis of Mainstream News Article’s Coverage in Kenya, a critical analysis of how mainstream media portrays women leaders in companies that were listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. As the article confirms a stereotyped, gendered portrayal of women, the same is affirmed in the following article on the Women's Experiences with Religion in the Novels of Three Women Writers, which treats the readers to how religion is used as a symbol of forces that play a constructive role in the societies through analyses of three novels by women writers.

In a commonly perceived male-dominated housing sector, an article on Enhancing Sustainable Housing through Women’s Cultural Skills, Experiences and Knowledge, brings out the importance of the experiences of Maasai women in the transfer of knowledge and skills in the construction of houses, and as custodians and change agents, bringing out an elevation and connectivity between the indigenous, modern knowledge and the dynamics of the transfer processes. Finally, readers in this issue will enjoy two other articles focusing on an analysis of women’s social interactions in the Labour Market in Kenya and an African feminist critique on the inclusivity of women in War and Terrorism, thereby challenging the gender insensitive theories on war, terrorism, and the exclusion of women in the counter-terrorism activities.