Saharawi women, Gender Colonialism and Nationalisms: A decolonial feminism-based approach

Abstract

This paper examines the different experiences of Saharawi women throughout the revolutionary period of the mid 70s from the perspective of decolonial feminisms. For this purpose, concepts such as ‘gender coloniality’ will serve as a starting point for the discussion, together with reflections on gender and nationalisms carried out by indigenous feminisms. Specifically, I will first discuss the role of the Women Section of the Falange as the chief institution in the generation of gender coloniality; secondly, the gender dimensions in nationalist discourses of the time will be looked at; thirdly, the massive participation of women in the Saharawi Liberation Movement will be unpacked. My aim is ultimately to help build a possible decolonial feminist history of Saharawi women.