https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/4688 2026-04-20T03:59:16Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6522 Title: Re-imagining gender equality and women empowerment using a decolonial feminist lens: a Zimbabwe case Authors: Nogget Matope; Rosemary Guvhu; Tenson Mugodzwa Abstract: Zimbabwe’s post-colonial trajectory provides a nuanced way to examine the dynamics of gender relations and toxic masculinity. The chapter explores the interplay of gender equality and women empowerment in and through the national policies on gender as well as the initiatives on the ground. Drawing on a Decolonial feminist lens underscores the need to deconstruct inherited power structure and challenge the negative attributes of patriarchal masculinity which perpetuate gender inequalities. The chapter further explores how colonial legacies continue to shape and reshape gender norms, decision making and leadership in the economy, politics and other public spheres. A Decolonial feminist approach is adopted as this underscores the need to acknowledge and interrogate the impact of, ethnicity, class and power to capture the nuances of gendered oppression which affect women in the Global South. The chapter further explores how grassroots movements, local initiatives and indigenous epistemologies contribute to gender equality and women empowerment, challenge hegemonic structures and harness alternative futures. Using comprehensive literature, document analysis and interviews, the chapter presents case studies which demonstrate the need to amplify the voices of the marginalized and ‘forgotten’. The chapter argues that the inclusion of cultural practices and community owned solutions are key in re-imagining a transformative gender just society to drive the gender equality mandate. The chapter concludes that solidarity building efforts, critical reflections, inclusive dialogues and an adoption of more transformative action lead to a just and equitable re-imagined future Zimbabwe. 2025-02-10T00:00:00Z Nogget Matope Rosemary Guvhu Tenson Mugodzwa https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6266 Title: A content analysis of gender representation in primary school Heritage-Social Studies textbooks in Zimbabwe Authors: Daniel Mawere Abstract: The study explores gender representation in grades 4 to 7 Heritage – Social Studies textbooks available to teachers, and learners in Zimbabwe Primary Schools. The feminist theory, which questions gender inequality and injustice through challenging the hegemony of patriarchy, formed the basis of the study. The qualitative study engaged the tenets of content analysis in its analytical framework. The analysis was based on language use and pictures in the textbooks studied. A purposive sample of four Heritage – Social Studies textbooks was selected to investigate the phenomenon of gender representation. Five units of each of the four textbooks were the focus of the study. The findings in the study show that textbooks studied are gender biased, as men and boys dominate the first position in nouns and pronouns. Picture presentation in analysed textbooks was biased towards men and boys thereby depicting an inclination towards patriarchy. The positively skewed picture representations biased in favour of men and boys impact on school learners differently. The study indicated that imbalanced representation in HSS textbook discourse continues unabated. Stakeholders in the textbook production need to ensure that Heritage – Social Studies textbooks are devoid of gender bias and gender discrimination. This is possible if government, through the Ministry of Education put in place guidelines for gender representation in textbook writing. Gender fair language on which both masculine and feminine generics promote the visibility of both men and women as well as boys and girls should characterise HSS textbooks. The textbooks produced should have gender-balanced pictures in order to undo stereotypical portrayal of females as inferior beings and males as dominant beings. 2024-07-10T00:00:00Z Daniel Mawere https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5858 Title: Fulfilling Obligations: A gender transformative framework for enhanced prevention of gender-based violence at a university in Zimbabwe Authors: Efiritha Chauraya Abstract: Gender-based violence is a global phenomenon, and institutions of higher learning are not spared of the scourge the world over. In Zimbabwe, despite the considerable attention and increasing awareness of gender-based violence, the vice is on the rise. The contribution of this study is the gender-transformative framework it suggests can curb the menace. A Zimbabwe university formed the locus of this study. A qualitative approach was employed because the intention was to capture and concentrate on the participants’ opinions, attitudes, feelings, and emotions on the high prevalence of the scourge and from that, an evidence-guided framework that can mitigate, remedy, and prevent gender-based violence was proposed. The primary method for soliciting the information from the participants was the in-depth face-to-face interview. In the study, 23 interviews were conducted with the Dean of students, three student leaders, the Registrar, and 18 students. A qualitative thematic analysis of the interview data was undertaken, and results revealed that although the university had crafted some measures and mechanisms to deal with the menace, the stumbling block was unsuccessful implementation. A gender responsive multi-pronged framework was innovatively proffered to strengthen implementation initiatives so that the vice is combated. 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Efiritha Chauraya https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5283 Title: Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable Urban Women in The Informal Sector: A Case of Gweru Urban Authors: A. Moyo; S. Mhembwe Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching adverse impact across the socio-economic livelihoods and subsequently, the wellbeing of the majority of the population in Zimbabwe. The informal sector which is largely dominated by females was negatively impacted due to the tightening of lock downs and travel restrictions as the government responds to the pandemic. The impact led to fragility and conflict where social cohesion was undermined and institutional capacity limited. This paper focuses on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable urban women. The study took a qualitative approach and was also based on a systematic review of secondary data sources like reports from national and international organizations, journal articles and policy reports. The study finds out that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent regulations imposed by the government restricting interprovincial travelling, women entrepreneurs who relied on informal trading were adversely impacted by the measures. The study also observed that the lockdown measures which were imposed to minimize the contagion of the COVID-19 virus ironically granted greater freedoms to women abusers who were stuck with their victims at home. The respondents testified that with the inception of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown measures, there was an increase in domestic violence cases for most women in communities studied. The study also observed that the pandemic worsened the socio-economic vulnerability for women who lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic. Thus, the study submits that the pandemic did not only cause an increase in gender-based violence for women, but it also disconnected most women from their respective support networks. The study therefore recommends local authorities to have safety nets in place for the vulnerable women especially those who survive on informal trading so as to sustain their livelihoods whenever there are outbreaks of pandemics of such a magnitude as the COVID-19 pandemic. It is further recommended that, the government must establish a fund to assist especially the female entrepreneurs in the informal sector to recover from loses incurred due to COVID-19 induced lock downs. 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z A. Moyo S. Mhembwe