African Feminisms and Co-constructing a Collaborative Future with Men: Namibian Women in Mining’s Discourses

Abstract

This study examines discourses of gender equality, inclusion, and empowerment in the mineral mining industry, focusing on the Women in Mining Association of Namibia (WiMAN). Qualitative content analysis revealed four themes: women as activists, women as hard workers, women as negotiators, and women as aligned with men. Building on African feminisms, the study emphasizes co-constructed, conciliatory, and collaborative symbolic action between men and women. These insights dislocate and denaturalize taken-for-granted assumptions espoused by some forms of Western feminisms which assume that feminist symbolic action requires antagonism and competition between women and men. In doing so, this study answers Broadfoot and Munshi’s (2007) call to diversify and enrich communication theory by including concepts, methods, and perspectives from around the globe.