The Case for a Feminist Foodscapes Framework: Lessons from research in urban Botswana

This article outlines a feminist foodscapes framework for exploring gender and food dynamics in Africa. It summarizes lessons learned from application of this approach to work on food issues in Gaborone, Botswana. The article argues that a holistic and politicized vision of gender, namely, a feminist approach, is required to unearth and comprehend the deep and complex relationships between men and women, masculine and feminine, and the resultant differences and inequalities embedded in society. Promoting the inherent connection between gender and feminism has the potential to encourage and ensure rigorous, comprehensive development research, as well as appropriate, meaningful development interventions.