Unmasking Patriarchy: The Family and Traditional Values Discourse and The Quest for The Reproductive Health and Rights of Women

Unmasking Patriarchy: The Family and Traditional Values Discourse and The Quest for The Reproductive Health and Rights of Women

This article examines how conservative rhetoric surrounding “traditional family values” and religious doctrine is weaponized to undermine women’s reproductive health and rights in Africa. It highlights how patriarchal structures co-opt political and judicial systems to restrict bodily autonomy, narrow constitutional protections, and roll back existing legal frameworks. Ultimately, the piece calls for a feminist counter-narrative that exposes these reactionary discourses to safeguard human rights and advance reproductive justice across the region.