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Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-2140-7689

Abstract

Growing up in South Africa and having read several “tell-all” biographies by influential women have made this researcher aware of the struggles of women to be recognised and valued within their social environments. The many names that come to mind, when speaking of women’s voices that challenged their position in our society, belong to those of struggle veterans such as Adelaide Tambo, Ruth First, Lilian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu, Thandi Modise, Baleka Mbethe, Leymah Gbowee, Ruth Mompati, Charlotte Maxeke, Joice Majuru, Thuli Madontsela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Their as women leaders roles remain undervalued (Shekhawat 2015). These phenomenal influential women and many others succeed in decolonizing their minds from racial and patriarchal oppression as they are free themselves from White and Black paradoxical and hegemonic patriarchal norms imposed on them (Torabi & Ghasemi 2015:13). Women such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela were part of the militant actions in Africa to dethrone colonial regimes, seek independence and dislodge oppressive governments in their countries (Lyons 1999). Despite the participation of women in the liberation movements and armed forces, patriarchal forces and male dominated political organisations were used to suppress the social understanding of women within society (Bridger 2015; Shekhawat 2015).

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