Gender justice and environmental sustainability: the role of women in promoting green practices in Africa
Abigail Opoku Mensah, David Worlanyo Adzovie, Erika Mamley Osae, Samuel Koomson
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to investigate how women in Africa help promote green practices through the lens of materialist ecofeminism theory. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach, the data were collected by interviewing women about environmental advocacy in different parts of Africa. Findings African women are active agents of transformational change. They spearhead grassroots movements and introduce local green innovations. Research limitations/implications More research is needed to prove that women are key players in achieving sustainable development. Practical implications The study recommends using differentiated approaches based on regional contexts. For instance, land tenure reforms are critical in Nigeria-West Africa, while women-led solar cooperatives are more relevant in Rwanda. Social implications The study demonstrates women's central role in environmental sustainability despite systemic barriers. It challenges traditional gender hierarchies and calls for fundamental social restructuring. Originality/value The study contributes a new understanding of how grassroots environmental stewardship can catalyse broader structural change. It challenges materialist ecofeminism's tendency to position women primarily as victims of structural oppression. It strategically positions women outside formal economic structures, thereby expanding ecofeminism's theory beyond its conventional, victim-centred framework. The study reveals regional differences in barriers that prevent policy translation into meaningful change. It also offers a comparative analysis, showing how African women's environmental engagement differs from other global regions.