African Women in Politics: A Case Study of Liberia Women, 19th Century to the Present

In this paper I will examine the role of Liberian women in politics from the late 19th century to the present. The election of Johnson Sirleaf as the first Liberian woman president and the first woman within the African continent to become a president in our times epitomized a long trend of women‘s involvement in politics. While much of has now been written on this subject, very little has focused on women in Liberia. My research will examine the lives of a few selected women including the current president to delineate their work and contribution in politics, education and the economy. Building on the works of other scholars, I argue that Liberia women have played a significant role in politics and in shaping and defining political public discourse. I will conduct research through primary research, such as interviews, articles and books. My work will make a contribution to the ongoing discussion on politics and gender in Africa