African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 161–168

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001268

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Customary Land Tenure Practices and Economic Marginalization of Widows in Rural Zambia

Names of Authors: Dr. Chileshe M. Mwamba¹, Prof. Brenda K. Mubanga¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract:
Despite progressive national land reforms designed to protect gender equity, rural women remain highly vulnerable to asset dispossession. This study evaluates the socio-economic drivers and long-term impacts of property grabbing targeting widows under customary land tenure systems in Zambia's Southern Province. Using a mixed-methods structural design, researchers collected data from 400 widows alongside 20 key informant interviews with traditional headmen and statutory magistrates. The quantitative regression metrics demonstrate that 78% of the surveyed widows experienced immediate land or asset dispossession by male in-laws following their husband's death. Customary practices prioritize patriarchal lineage preservation, rendering statutory legal protections completely ineffective in rural communities. The empirical data show a strong positive correlation between land dispossession and household food insecurity, with affected widow-headed households exhibiting a 55% lower nutritional index score (p < 0.01). Qualitative narratives reveal that widows who seek formal legal remedies face severe social sanctions, including public shaming, physical eviction, and witchcraft accusations by village elders. Traditional headmen view independent female land titles as subversions of ancestral heritage. The study argues that top-down legislation will fail without deep institutional transformations inside local customary councils. We recommend legally binding traditional courts to statutory human rights charters, implementing mobile paralegal programs for rural widows, and criminalizing property-grabbing behaviors.

Keywords: Property Grabbing, Customary Law, Widows, Economic Security, Land Ownership, Zambia

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 05, 2026; Revised: May 24, 2026; Accepted: June 28, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Mwamba, C. M., & Mubanga, B. K. (2026). Customary Land Tenure Practices and Economic Marginalization of Widows in Rural Zambia. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 161–168. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001268

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 145–152

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001266

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Hegemonic Masculinity and Psychosocial Adjustment Among Displaced Men in North-Eastern Nigeria

Names of Authors: Dr. Mustapha B. Ibrahim¹, Dr. Fatima Z. Yerima²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; ²Center for Gender Studies, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract:
Armed conflict and displacement disrupt not only community infrastructure but also deeply rooted gender identities. This study explores how the loss of socio-economic livelihood options shapes masculine identities and psychosocial adjustment among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North-Eastern Nigeria. Utilizing an ethnographic design inside three major IDP camps, data were gathered through 12 months of fieldwork, involving 55 narrative life-history interviews and 6 focus group sessions with displaced men aged 25 to 60. The empirical findings reveal that conflict-induced displacement strips men of their traditional roles as financial protectors and family providers, inducing severe crises of hegemonic masculinity. Descriptively, 82% of the participants exhibited symptoms of severe psychological distress and clinical depression, yet formal clinical help-seeking behaviors were avoided as they were viewed as signs of masculine vulnerability. The thematic analysis demonstrates that this internal identity friction regularly transforms into maladaptive behaviors, including chronic substance abuse and a 48% escalation in the perpetration of intimate partner violence within the camp tents (p < 0.05). Humanitarian aid architectures inadvertently worsen this dynamic by distributing resources directly to women, bypassing traditional male heads of households. The study concludes that post-conflict psychosocial programs must deconstruct rigid gender expectations. We advocate for peer-led male mental health support networks and gender-transformative livelihood programs within emergency humanitarian responses.

Keywords: Hegemonic Masculinity, Psychological Distress, Internal Displacement, Humanitarian Aid, Domestic Abuse, Nigeria

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 20, 2026; Revised: April 18, 2026; Accepted: May 30, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Ibrahim, B. M., & Yerima, Z. F. (2026). Hegemonic Masculinity and Psychosocial Adjustment Among Displaced Men in North-Eastern Nigeria. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 145–152. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001266

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 137–144

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001265

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Maternal Health Inequity and Geographic Barriers in the Mountainous Regions of Rural Lesotho

Names of Authors: Dr. Rethabile S. Maqa¹, Dr. Lerato V. Molapo¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho

Abstract:
Maternal mortality indicators remain highly uneven between urban centers and remote mountainous districts in southern Africa. This study evaluates the direct correlation between geographic barriers, spatial distributions of clinics, and maternal health outcomes in rural Lesotho. Utilizing a cross-sectional spatial analysis combined with a survey of 380 postpartum mothers, the research tracks health-seeking delays during obstetric emergencies. The quantitative data demonstrate that geographic distances exceeding 15 km across mountainous terrain reduce the probability of a woman delivering under skilled birth attendance by 75% (p < 0.01). The travel time to the nearest primary health post averaged 5.4 ± 2.1 hours, primarily on foot or horse, resulting in preventable home delivery complications. Qualitative insights indicate that patriarchal household structures exacerbate these delays, as 68% of women must secure direct financial permission from husbands working in South African mines before accessing emergency transport. Furthermore, rural clinics experience acute shortages of basic maternal supplies and clean water, forcing women to purchase their own clinical delivery kits. The study concludes that standard, centralized healthcare investments fail to solve rural maternal inequities. We recommend implementing decentralized community-run maternity waiting homes near district hospitals, providing mobile maternal health drones for emergency medications, and training traditional birth companions as clinical referral agents.

Keywords: Maternal Health, Spatial Isolation, Healthcare Delivery, Rural Clinics, Obstetric Emergencies, Lesotho

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 29, 2026; Revised: June 05, 2026; Accepted: July 12, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Maqa, R. S., & Molapo, L. V. (2026). Maternal Health Inequity and Geographic Barriers in the Mountainous Regions of Rural Lesotho. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 137–144. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001265

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 129–136

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001264

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Evaluating Post-Conflict Transitional Justice Mechanisms Through an Intersectional Feminist Lens in Sierra Leone

Names of Authors: Dr. Zainab O. Kamara¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract:
This paper provides an empirical critique of post-conflict transitional justice mechanisms in Sierra Leone, evaluating how institutional reconciliation processes address gender-based war crimes. Utilizing an intersectional feminist analytical framework, the research examines historical records from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) alongside 45 in-depth narrative interviews with female ex-combatants and war widows in rural districts. The findings reveal that formal transitional justice frameworks prioritized elite political stability over grassroots economic and bodily reparations for women. Although the TRC documented widespread sexual slavery and forced marriages, less than 15% of the recommended financial and medical reparations reached the victims due to institutional corruption and logistical barriers. The data demonstrate that female ex-combatants face double marginalization, experiencing severe community rejection because they violated traditional submissive gender norms during the conflict. Conversely, male ex-combatants received disproportionately higher reintegration allowances and formal technical training slots. The qualitative narratives show that rural widows remain stuck in extreme poverty because customary laws continue to deny them property inheritance rights, regardless of statutory declarations. The study concludes that top-down peacebuilding models reinforce pre-war patriarchal structures. We advocate for survivor-led reparations programs, permanent psychosocial support centers, and the alignment of customary land laws with statutory human rights frameworks.

Keywords: Transitional Justice, Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Female Ex-Combatants, Reparations, Intersectionality, Sierra Leone

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 18, 2026; Revised: May 20, 2026; Accepted: June 22, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Kamara, Z. O. (2026). Evaluating Post-Conflict Transitional Justice Mechanisms Through an Intersectional Feminist Lens in Sierra Leone. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 129–136. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001264

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 121–128

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001263

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Digital Financial Inclusion and Financial Autonomy Dynamics Among Market Women in Cotonou, Benin

Names of Authors: Dr. Angèle M. Houndonougbo¹, Prof. Koffi J. Agossou²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculté des Sciences Économiques et de Gestion, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; ²Centre d’Afrique pour la Finance Durable, Lomé, Togo

Abstract:
Digital financial services are widely championed as engines for female economic empowerment. This study evaluates the actual impact of mobile money platforms on the economic autonomy and household decision-making power of informal market women in Cotonou, Benin. Operating within a mixed-methods empirical design, researchers conducted a survey among 450 female merchants alongside 12 focus group discussions across major urban markets. The quantitative findings indicate that while 88% of respondents actively utilize mobile wallets for daily commercial transactions, this digital inclusion does not automatically translate into personal financial autonomy. Structural equation modeling reveals that in 42% of cases, husbands or male relatives retain indirect surveillance or outright veto power over large digital savings balances (p < 0.05). Qualitative data demonstrate that patriarchal expectations regarding male financial dominance cause hidden marital friction when women obscure their digital earnings. Furthermore, high digital transaction fees and widespread algorithmic literacy deficits leave older merchants highly vulnerable to digital financial fraud. The study argues that financial technologies fail to transform lives if underlying family power imbalances are left unaddressed. We recommend implementing localized, audio-visual digital financial literacy programs in native languages, establishing privacy-protected mobile banking products for women, and capping transaction taxes for low-volume informal micro-enterprises.

Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Mobile Money, Market Women, Financial Autonomy, Domestic Power, Benin

Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 02, 2026; Revised: June 11, 2026; Accepted: July 04, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Houndonougbo, A. M., & Agossou, K. J. (2026). Digital Financial Inclusion and Financial Autonomy Dynamics Among Market Women in Cotonou, Benin. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 121–128. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001263

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 9, August 2026 | pp. 113–120

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001262

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Gendered Impacts of Electronic Waste Exploitation on Women’s Health in Urban Ghana

Names of Authors: Dr. Kwabena A. Appiah¹, Dr. Serwaa O. Mensah¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

Abstract:
This study investigates the gendered health vulnerabilities and economic realities of female informal workers processing electronic waste (e-waste) at the Agbogbloshie site in Accra, Ghana. Utilizing an environmental health framework, data were collected through medical questionnaires administered to 220 female scrap workers, alongside blood serum analysis for heavy metal toxicity concentrations. The laboratory diagnostics reveal that female workers exhibit significantly elevated levels of lead (mean = 18.4 ± 3.2 μg/dL) and cadmium compared to non-exposed control groups (p < 0.01). The socio-economic analysis shows that traditional gender divisions of labor relegate women to the least lucrative and most hazardous tasks, such as manual dismantling and open-air plastic burning, without protective gear. Regression modeling demonstrates that maternal exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals increased the risk of spontaneous abortions and neonatal low-birth-weight complications by 65%. Qualitative narratives indicate that deep-seated financial dependence prevents these women from seeking medical care at formal clinics, as they prioritize daily household survival over health security. Furthermore, healthcare providers lack training in occupational environmental toxicology, frequently misdiagnosing chemical poisoning symptoms as malaria. The study concludes that existing e-waste management regulations remain gender-blind. We recommend the provision of subsidized personal protective equipment tailored for women, the establishment of site-specific reproductive health tracking schemes, and the formalization of female scrap-worker cooperatives.

Keywords: Electronic Waste, Heavy Metals, Women’s Health, Informal Sector, Toxicology, Ghana

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 14, 2026; Revised: May 29, 2026; Accepted: June 30, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026.

Citation: Appiah, K. A., & Mensah, S. O. (2026). Gendered Impacts of Electronic Waste Exploitation on Women’s Health in Urban Ghana. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(9), 113–120. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001262