Feminism and its impact on women’s lives in Zambia

Abstract

After a long time of suffering and discrimination, women have found recognition in society. Women now play important roles such as politician, socialist and economist. Feminism has generated an on-going debate world over as it came to solve women’s problems and to put an end to the injustice suffered by women. It was a voice in times when they were not able to speak or to express their feelings and wishes. Feminism analyses the status of women and men in society with the purpose of using that knowledge to better their lives. Thus, it questions and addresses the differences between men and women, such as how race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, and age; intersect with gender. Whether feminism is considered a social movement or a political movement, it is said to specifically focus on women’s experiences in their daily life which they are subjected to in society. The advent of feminism granted women rights hence, the various achievements. However, despite these achievements, women have continued to suffer discrimination and injustice compared to men. The central objective of this paper was to examine the impact feminism has had on the lives of women in Zambia. The study relied on secondary data from various sources and studies done on women in Zambia. The paper surveys the birth of feminism, its various types and thereafter examines ways it has been helpful in women’s battle for equal rights. The findings show that feminism has had both positive and negative impacts on the lives of women and that despite various efforts to bring about equality between men and women, there still exists discrimination of women especially in decision making. Thus, the paper recommends that more should be done to stop the glass ceiling and stop the discrimination suffered by women especially in decision making.

Keywords: Feminism, women’s movement, gender equality.