A contemporary approach to the ethnography of gender in southern Africa, this book makes an important contribution through its exploration of the intersections between gender, fertility, and personhood in Botswana. It illustrates the precarity and positionality of women in this region and the need for ethnographic understandings of the lived experiences of those with whom we work. * Rebecca Upton, Colgate University, USA * A necessary and beautiful book that delves deep, with such tact and academic rigour, into contemporary womanhood in Botswana by centring the womens narratives. By analysing, and exposing the intricate bi-legal, historical, societal and gendered interconnections, the book illuminates the complexities and contradictions of Black Batswana womanhood without being universalistic. * Patrycja Sosnowska-Buxton, The University of Stavanger, Norway * Stephanie's book is a fluent, compelling, challenging read. The experience of navigating womanhood that she sets out is filled with pain and unachievable standards. Whilst Stephanie explores some of the ways in which attitudes towards womanhood are changing, it seems that change comes very slowly. * Alexander McLean, Founder and CEO of Justice Defenders * Written in an accessible and captivating manner this book weaves the story of Batswana women through multiple facets of their lives. It brilliantly amplifies the voices of the women telling their stories in their own words. Although written about Botswana, it is very much the story of all African women and indeed many aspects will resonate with women across the world. While acknowledging the positive strides made so far, it also captures the ground that is yet to be won. A must read for all gender and development practitioners, students and women everywhere. * Evelyne Opondo, Africa Director at International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) * This book is an outstanding contribution to our knowledge of the construction of womanhood in a particular context and location while also contextualising it for women worldwide. It is an in-depth, scholarly study, nevertheless written in clear, accessible English and has my warmest recommendation for readers to further their understanding of the subtleties of gender construction and the implications for diverse womens lives. * Robin Burns, Formerly of La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia * As several experts have pointed out, in their written praises, Navigating Womanhood in Contemporary Botswana is a well written and thought-provoking work that can benefit college and university students as well as mainstream academic researchers and, indeed, those who read such works leisurely. * African and Asian Studies Journal * This text is a meaningful text for anyone interested in feminism or the experiences of women, especially scholars and students. It is straightforwardly written in style, which is an important feminist attribute that ensures that those who are not deeply familiar with feminist discourse can still read and understand the text. * Feminist Encounters * Navigating Womanhood in Contemporary Botswana provides an excellent introduction to Botswana womens views of sexism and patriarchy. * Journal of Gender Studies * Navigating Womanhood in Contemporary Botswana is a captivating book in which the author, Starling, examines how the social construction of womanhood affects the lived experiences of women across a wide range of domains in contemporary Botswana It is an advanced book that would be beneficial to scholars and professionals in the fields of African studies, women and gender studies, social work, and sociology. * Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work *
