‘There is power in the cry of a woman’: the approach of African women with disabilities to leadership
Article
Article Title | ‘There is power in the cry of a woman’: the approach of African women with disabilities to leadership |
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ERA Journal ID | 10878 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | King, Julie (Author), Edwards, Nicole (Author) and Watling, Hanna (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Gender Studies |
Journal Citation | 32 (7), pp. 719-730 |
Number of Pages | 12 |
Year | 2023 |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0958-9236 |
1465-3869 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2022.2085676 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09589236.2022.2085676 |
Abstract | African disability activists and leaders play a key role in addressing the pervasive stigma, discrimination, and exclusion that is encountered by people with disability. An understanding of the leadership influences, styles, and priorities of female disability leaders may encourage and support the African disability movement and women’s involvement in it. The current study undertook a series of in-depth interviews that explored the life stories and leadership experiences of seven female disability leaders from Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya. Findings indicated that although the participants had experienced significant discrimination and pain as women with disability (WWD), they had been able to draw strength and conviction from their trauma and use their experiences to connect with other WWD. The participants described leadership as the service to others and they understood the importance of unity, hope, participatory leadership, and a commitment to a common goal and purpose. Through their leadership, they sought to empower individual WWD, as well as shape a united disability movement with a strong political voice. These findings demonstrate the importance of understanding the role women can play in disability leadership, serving as a hopeful reminder that trauma and marginalization can be reconceptualized as a source of strength and compassion. |
Keywords | Africa; Disability leadership; disability rights; women with disability |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420318. People with disability |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Queensland University of Technology |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7992/-there-is-power-in-the-cry-of-a-woman-the-approach-of-african-women-with-disabilities-to-leadership
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