Some Words on Life, Girlhoods, and a Research Path through East and Central Africa

What is girlhood? A status? A life stage? An identity? A historical fiction? Throughout history, girls are often depicted either as perpetual victims to be saved or instigators to be blamed for social problems. Full of contradictions, girlhood is complicated. This talk explores the ways words can serve as artifacts that provide insight into the complex histories of girlhood in eastern and central Africa. Through an examination of historical evidence relevant to generation, girlhood, and family, this talk invites the audience to think through the historical possibilities of girlhoods from ancient to contemporary times.https://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/fac_coll/1048/thumbnail.jp