Femininity, Sexuality and Culture: Patriarchy and Female Subordination in Zimbabwe

Published by ARSRC, Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre, this publication examines the interplay between femininity, sexuality, and culture within the Shona culture in Zimbabwe. These three variables are found to be closely interwoven and incapable of being separated when examining the impact of patriarchal practices on the shaping and perpetuation of gender inequality.

This paper focuses on patriarchy as one facet of culture. The paper attempts to highlight how patriarchy is bread through the socialization process within the family and how it infiltrates into other sectors of society like religion, education, the economy, and politics. The main argument in this paper is that patriarchy leads to gender inequality and subordination of women.