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Female Sexuality as Capacity and Power? Reconceptualizing Sexualities in Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2015

Signe Arnfred
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Abstract:

The article argues for an approach to studies of sexuality in Africa that considers the subject of female sexuality from the perspective of capacity and power. Based on data from Mozambique, and informed by conceptual frameworks as well as by research findings from other African countries, the article investigates preparations of the erotic female body such as body tattoos, hip belts of glass beads, and elongated labia. It also discusses how “traditional” sexual capacity-building has been transferred from rural contexts into urban settings, empowering young women in love relationships with older, richer men.

Résumé:

L’article fait valoir une approche des études sur la sexualité en Afrique qui considère le sujet de la sexualité féminine du point de vue de la capacité et de la puissance. Il est basé sur des données en provenance du Mozambique, et éclairé par des cadres conceptuels ainsi que par les résultats de recherches provenant d'autres pays africains. Ce faisant, il examine les préparatifs du corps érotique de la femme tels que les tatouages du corps, les ceintures de hanche en perles de verre, et les lèvres allongées. Il explique également comment le renforcement des capacités “traditionnelle” sexuelle a été transféré de contextes ruraux en milieu urbain, donnant aux jeunes femmes plus de pouvoir dans les relations amoureuses avec des hommes plus âgés et plus riches.

Keywords

Female sexualitysexual pleasuretattoosmissangaslabia elongation
Type
ASR FORUM ON WOMEN AND GENDER IN AFRICA: PART 1
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 58 , Issue 3 , December 2015 , pp. 149 - 170
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2015 

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