An African Approach to Professional Philosophy: A Challenge to Female Gender

Abstract: This paper examines the female gender involvement in professional philosophy; it begins with a description of professional philosophy as one of the four trends in African philosophy. In consideration of what constitutes African Philosophy is distinguished through two main groups; the traditionalists and the universalists. Professional Philosophy is envisaged to be a human tool for analyzing and resolving problems, and one of the obvious drawbacks in professional philosophy is the absence of female gender. Thus, the female gender lacks such tools for analysis and resolutions. The premises under this discussion is on the proposition that all philosophy is founded on culture experience, people’s worldview and behaviour. In observation that culture is nothing other than the entirety of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, way of life, roots and knowledge, which enhances a social action and therefore, its centrality in the development of a philosophy is indisputable and unquestionable. This paper therefore, argues that female gender participation in this field more so by female Africans is partially missing and wanting. This is an absurdity! Hence to promote the female gender into this academia and by virtue of its very identity, then this research is envisioned to uphold African values especially those that pertain to African identity and African morals that will promote the female gender’s willingness and full participation into this sphere of academia. Therefore, it aims at inviting the female gender to the understanding that professional philosophy is not a male preserve space and that the profession gap is wanting and is uncalled for. The fact that female gender has not progressed in this field in comparison to their male counterpart because of the prejudices and enslaving culture is not a justification for this. Thus, the female gender is exhorted to wholly involve in professional philosophy as a basis for holistic development, growth and autonomy than looking at it with askance. This article concludes that the possible paradigm shift for empowerment and holistic development for the female gender will be brought to actualization by full participation in professional philosophy in Africa by African woman. This paper will employ a qualitative method in analyzing its data while giving its philosophical judgment.