Violated by Heritage : African Women and Harmful Traditional Practices

Whilst tradition and culture can be commended for upholding the fabric of many African societies, they also in many cases violate human rights, especially women's rights. Practices such as early marriages, forced marriages, female genital mutilations, widow inheritance, wife assault, denial of education to girls, preference for sons and discriminatory treatment of women is rampant in many African countries and they are simply classed as cultural and traditional. Many of these practises have their roots in social constructions of gender that promotes patriarchy and hegemonic masculinity. Framed within a feminist standpoint epistemology and guided by feminist post structuralism theory, this article highlights these harmful practices and also examines ways in which they can be challenged and eliminated. In addition, the concepts of cultural relativism and cultural defence which promotes tolerance and legitimacy of different cultural traditional norms will be interrogated. We argue in this article that though, cultural traditions have rights of expression, it should be within a human rights framework and certainly not at the expense of women. When it promotes violence and discrimination, it should be condemned. Human rights activists and feminist groups usually face stiff resistance when they challenge such practices. However, until ways are found to eradicate or amend such practices, discrimination and violence against women will continue and justifiably so.