In Africa, women leaders have a strong legacy. Female pharaohs ruled ancient Egypt, queens and queen mothers have reigned throughout contemporary Africa, and women across the continent have led modern liberation movements. This book’s wide-ranging examination of African women leaders focuses especially on women in elected or appointed national government positions. The author provides an extensive analysis of the progress made by women leaders in each individual country, as well as an overall analysis of the historical role of women in African governments. In addition, the book offers in-depth profiles of eleven women in high office, including current Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mozambique prime minister Luisa Diogo. A table lists quotas for the percentage of women in African parliaments. An appendix shows the current number of women in national parliaments worldwide, About the Author Sociologist Rosemarie Skaine lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She has also written Female Suicide Bombers (2006), Female Genital Mutilation (2005), The Cuban Family (2004), Paternity and American Law (2003), The Women of Afghanistan Under the Taliban (2002), Women College Basketball Coaches (2001), Women at War (1999) A Man of the Twentieth Century (1999) and Power and Gender (1996).
Excerpt
The woman pictured on the cover is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria. She is at a 2004 press conference with World Bank President James Wolfensohn (center) and Agustin Carstens of the International Monetary Fund. Here is an advance excerpt about this competent woman:
"In 2006, Okonjo-Iweala's rank of 62 on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women
credits her for 'prudent debt management and calls for fiscal discipline.' Okonjo-Iweala led the negotiations that resulted in cancellation of nearly two-thirds, $18 billion, of Nigeria's $30 billion Paris Club debt. This debt cancellation was the second largest in the Paris Club of international creditor's 30-year history and Africa's biggest debt write-off."
Professional Reviews
Feminist Collections
"Rosemarie Skaine's Women Political Leaders in Africa addresses this gap in public awareness. ... Although other sources of similar information exist, no single work is as comprehensive. ... Therefore, I highly recommend this work for all academic reference collections."
--Nancy M. Lewis, "Rosemarie Skaine, Women Political Leaders in Africa," Feminist Collections (v.29, no. 2, Spring 2008).
Politique Internationale
This review is written in French and what follows are the highlights based on a translation:
Sociologist Rosemarie Skaine basically wants to be optimistic regarding the role of women in Africa. Providing a study of the progression of the role of women in management governance in each African country is its chief merit. Discussing each country is difficult to do, but she does it thoroughly.
Reviewed by Rene Pelissier, Orgeval, France, Politique Internationale, no 122, Winter 2008-2009, pp. 408-409.
Flamman
This excellent review is written in Swedish and what follows is a small portion based on a Google translation:
"The fact-based compilation for each country, coupled with the brief analysis of the country's political development, makes it easy to see the variation over time. Together with the final and summary chapter provides Women Political Leaders in Africa a good introduction to Africa, political equality and women's presence in parliaments and governments in today's Africa."
Gordana Malesevic, "African Queen Shows the Way to Equality Politics," Flamman, September 3, 2009, pp. 1-2.
this is a great book in my eyes Rose. Women and minorities have always been held down. But as we can see they are emerging from their tombs. Here in Baltimore we have all women running the city. And of course if Hillary Clinton or Obama wins the presidential election this will be the beginning of great change and progress in this area. hugs
Sounds like a very intersting book. I know you are excited even though you've had other books published. Each one is "our baby" until it has hit the market and left for people to read. Good excerpt.
