Negotiating feminist identity among young Nigerian women through an African feminist lens

Grounded in African feminist theory, this study explores how young Nigerian women navigate and negotiate feminist identity within a cultural context where feminism is often misrepresented or misunderstood. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nineteen Nigerian women aged 19 to 35 across diverse social, educational, and religious backgrounds to investigate how feminism is negotiated and redefined. Thematic analysis of their narratives reveals that feminism, for these women, is not a fixed identity but a fluid, strategic, and context-specific practice deeply informed by cultural and societal expectations. By centering African women’s voices and realities, the findings highlight the need for a culturally grounded feminist framework that acknowledges the lived realities and resilience of African women.