'the Forgotten Souls': Questioning the Masculinity of Zimbabwe History.
‘THE FORGOTTEN SOULS’: QUESTIONING THE MASCULINITY OF ZIMBABWEAN HISTORY.
Paper presented at OTAZI conference on documentation and memorisation of dark histories, Bulawayo, 7-8 December 2012. Prisca Nyaude Research and Public Archives section, National Archives of Zimbabwe. E-mail: priscamarova@gmail.com. And Brenda Mamvura Records Management Services section, National Archives of Zimbabwe. E-mail: bmamvu@yahoo.com
Abstract.
This presentation seeks to highlight gender imbalances in the depiction of women in Zimbabwean history. It defines the concept of dark history in respect of women’s participation in shaping Zimbabwean’s past. It gives an overview of women’s under-representation in historical documentation in the pre-colonial and colonial phases. It illustrates the social, political and economic impact of this marginalisation on the lives of women. Research findings to support the assertion of underrepresentation of women in historical documentation are presented. The paper concludes by highlighting strategies that can be used to plug gender imbalances’ in Zimbabwean history. It is thus recommended that active involvement and empowerment of women through acknowledging their existence in all critical spheres of life would consequently create a gender balanced history and move away from the excessively masculine dimension.
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Key words: gender imbalances, marginalisation, dark history.
Introduction.
Women are the forgotten souls of Zimbabwean historical documentation as highlighted in gender imbalances in the depiction of women in history. Zimbabwean history is excessively masculine. It is a result of the cultural background which is patriarchal, over emphasising the dominant role of men in all spheres of social life.
Paper presented at OTAZI conference on documentation and memorisation of dark histories, Bulawayo, 7-8 December 2012. Prisca Nyaude Research and Public Archives section, National Archives of Zimbabwe. E-mail: priscamarova@gmail.com. And Brenda Mamvura Records Management Services section, National Archives of Zimbabwe. E-mail: bmamvu@yahoo.com
Abstract.
This presentation seeks to highlight gender imbalances in the depiction of women in Zimbabwean history. It defines the concept of dark history in respect of women’s participation in shaping Zimbabwean’s past. It gives an overview of women’s under-representation in historical documentation in the pre-colonial and colonial phases. It illustrates the social, political and economic impact of this marginalisation on the lives of women. Research findings to support the assertion of underrepresentation of women in historical documentation are presented. The paper concludes by highlighting strategies that can be used to plug gender imbalances’ in Zimbabwean history. It is thus recommended that active involvement and empowerment of women through acknowledging their existence in all critical spheres of life would consequently create a gender balanced history and move away from the excessively masculine dimension.
-------------------------------------------------
Key words: gender imbalances, marginalisation, dark history.
Introduction.
Women are the forgotten souls of Zimbabwean historical documentation as highlighted in gender imbalances in the depiction of women in history. Zimbabwean history is excessively masculine. It is a result of the cultural background which is patriarchal, over emphasising the dominant role of men in all spheres of social life.
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