Generation Z and the Reframing of Feminist Ideologies in Africa

Abstract

Traditional feminist discourse has largely been shaped by Western perspectives, often neglecting the unique sociocultural and historical contexts of African societies. Digital media plays a crucial role in shaping the feminist consciousness of African Gen-Z. There is a need to explore how Gen-Z in Africa is redefining feminist dominance, particularly in relation to digital media, cultural influences, and societal expectations. This study focused on how Generation Z (Gen-Z) redefine feminist ideologies and gender power dynamics in modern-day African societies. It is anchored on Postcolonial Feminist and Intersectionality Theories. Employing the mixed-methods approach, NVivo data was collected using interviews and quantitative data was collected using a Google Form e-questionnaire from 250 Gen-Z youths (aged 18-25) from five African countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia), covering both urban and rural areas. The mixed-methods approach allowed for an in-depth exploration of personal narratives, despite also providing measurable trends on feminist ideologies and gender power dynamics across diverse contexts. Data analysis was conducted through thematic, descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis.  Results indicate that 68% of respondents in the urban area see feminism as a transformative force towards gender equality. However, 45% of respondents in rural areas link feminism to various forms of empowerment, albeit with uncertainties about its appropriateness in traditional societies. In addition, results reveal that 57% of the Gen-Z participants easily relate to feminist ideologies, thus enabling them to promote gender equity and challenge patriarchal structures. Comparatively, 43% of the Gen-Z participants presented more conservative views, aligning them with cultural and religious norms. Inferential statistics point to a significant positive correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) between exposure to digital media platforms and support for feminist dominance among Gen-Z in urban areas. Furthermore, 62% of the participants who showed feminist dominance also revealed that their perspectives on gender roles had greatly changed in the recent past six years, especially on subject areas of sexual autonomy and leadership equality. The study advocates for the inclusion of progressive feminist perspectives in educational, policy and social discourse to promote an equitable and genderised future across the African continent.