Constructing Citizenship and Identity: Exploring Political Participation Amongst Black African Women from Zimbabwean and South African Townships

ABSTRACTHow do Black African women from impoverished communities understand themselves as citizens? This article contributes to the theoretical and methodological development of citizenship, as well as the small body of literature on women’s participation in township community politics. The paper is based on a case analysis of women living in Zimbabwean and South African townships, who identify as members of the isiNdebele and isiZulu ethnic groups, respectively. In-depth interviews were conducted with 37 Black African women and analysed using content analysis. Results indicate that the women use a range of strategies to navigate their structural barriers and negotiate their membership and relationship with their states. The main policy implication is that there is a need for civic education in schools and women’s empowerment and community development programmes, which will encourage marginalised African women to collectively challenge, contest and improve the substance of existing citizenship rights.