African Women in Law A Comparative Perspective

African Women in Law is the first empirical study to offer a comprehensive and contextually rich portrait of African women in the legal profession. Drawing on 153 interviews across six countries, 249 survey responses from 21 countries, and secondary literature from 15 countries, this groundbreaking book explores the representation of women in the bar, bench, and legal academia. It traces historical developments, examines current realities, and sets the stage for future research.

Introducing the HISP framework—History, Institutions, Social (norms), and Position(ality)—the book analyzes how structural forces shape women's roles in law. Through original concepts such as exclusion versus accommodation, racehorses versus workhorses, and the women's other-bar and other-bench, it challenges conventional narratives and highlights the diverse experiences of African women in law. The volume also builds on matri-legal feminist theory to offer a fresh lens for understanding gender and justice in African contexts.

Rejecting essentialist approaches, the book argues that there is no single narrative of the lived experiences of African women in law. Instead, it reveals how women have emerged from the margins of a male-dominated field to assume leadership roles, often through innovative strategies that overcome systemic barriers. As the first comparative study of its kind, African Women in Law establishes a vital foundation for future scholarship and inspires new questions, methods, and theories for exploring law, gender, and governance across the continent.

J. Jarpa Dawuni is a full professor of political science at Howard University in Washington, DC. A lawyer, distinguished author, scholar, and feminist, she is recognized for her work on women, law, judging, and women's rights. She has received numerous fellowships, including the Fulbright, the Institute for Advanced Studies in Marseille, France, and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, as well as visiting scholar positions in Denmark, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Professor Dawuni has secured multiple grants and established academic programs, including a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexualities; the Center for Women and Global Leadership; and the Institute for African Women in Law—all of which focus on empowering women and promoting gender equality.