109V o l u m e 9 5 / 2 0 2 3 | J o u r n a l I S S N : 2 0 7 5 2 4 5 8 B O O K R E V I E W Reviewed by Lesego Motsage BOOK REVIEW: 110 Gendered institutions in this book are described as social structures, norms, and practices that maintain gender inequalities and stereotypes, often to the advantage of men. Many political systems in Af rica are patriarchal, with traditional leadership structures dominated by men. The book highlights the formal and informal political institutions that make it difficult for Af rican women to gain access to political power or to have their voices heard within the Af rican political establishment. Additionally, many of the rules and customs of Af rican political institutions are biased against women and sometimes require candidates to have a certain level of education or financial autonomy that may be more difficult for women to attain. These gendered institutions have contributed to the under-representation of Af rican women in politics. While there has been progress in recent years, women remain significantly under- represented in Af rican decision-making bodies such as Af rican National Parliaments. This book has eight chapters, with each chapter representing a unique case study of a country in Af rica. The eight Af rican countries that the book focuses on are South Af rica, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Botswana.  Female political leaders f rom these countries face many political challenges, including sexism, gender bias, negative media coverage, societal stereotypes, and expectations about women’s roles and abilities. Sexism and gender bias often manifest in various ways, including through double standards around appearance and behaviour, as well as discrimination and harassment. For example, female candidates have been scrutinised for their clothing, hair, and makeup choices. Furthermore, they have been expected to conform to traditional gender roles and stereotypes in order for them to be seen as competent. Negative media coverage has also significantly impacted Af rican female political leaders, with women often receiving less favourable or more critical coverage than their male counterparts. This has led to public perceptions of female candidates being shaped by biased or inaccurate information, which can be challenging to overcome. Furthermore, societal stereotypes and expectations about women’s roles and abilities continue to pose challenges for female political leaders.  Af rican women oftentimes face pressure to balance their professional and personal lives in ways that men do not and have sometimes been perceived as being less capable or qualified than male candidates due to their gender. Another challenge the book highlights is the lack of support and resources available to women who wish to enter politics. Women in these Af rican countries face social stigma and barriers discouraging them f rom seeking political office. They have limited access to funding and the resources necessary to run a successful campaign. As noted on page 7 of the book: ‘Women have to negotiate with their husbands over funds, use their professional and private networks for fundraising, taking loans and receiving gifts’. Additionally, women who do enter politics may face hostility or harassment f rom male colleagues or constituents, leading to further marginalisation and disempowerment. These challenges make it more difficult for female political leaders to succeed in their campaigns and can contribute to ongoing gender disparities in political representation and leadership. However, many women have been able to overcome these obstacles and achieve successful careers in politics, paving the way for future generations of female leaders. The book highlights the need to adopt a feminist institutionalist perspective. Furthermore, it advocates for the need to modify and adapt ‘feminist institutionalism’ to Af rican realities on the ground and Af rican conceptions of power, feminism, and institutions. The three components of Af rican feminist B O O K R E V I E W T H E T H I N K E R | J o u r n a l I S S N : 2 0 7 5 2 4 5 8 Female political leaders from these countries face many political challenges, including sexism, gender bias, negative media coverage, societal stereotypes, and expectations about women’s roles and abilities. Sexism and gender bias often manifest in various ways, including through double standards around appearance and behaviour, as well as discrimination and harassment. 111V o l u m e 9 5 / 2 0 2 3 | J o u r n a l I S S N : 2 0 7 5 2 4 5 8 B O O K R E V I E W institutionalism are the re-excavation of the past, the role of Af rican feminisms in reshaping patriarchal institutions, and the development of specific Af rican concepts on gendered institutions. The book provides a more nuanced perspective on Af rican concepts such as Femocracy and the First-Lady Syndrome, as well as a new emphasis on a Politics of Insults, Ridicule, and Rumours that works against the participation of more women in politics. A lot has been written about Af rica and Af rican women, but there is a need for Af ricans to write about themselves. Page 242 of the book notes that ‘It has been important to ensure that the majority of contributions are written not just about Af rica but also by Af rican researchers’. An element that makes the book unique is that female Af rican scholars contributed to the book; Af rican women were part of telling their own story for a change. A critique of the book is that the sampling of the countries was not fairly done, as there is a lack of representation f rom other parts of Af rica. No country f rom North Af rica was represented; only two East Af rican countries and one country f rom West Af rica were chosen. The remaining five countries are f rom the southern parts of Af rica, more specifically the SADC region; therefore, the title would have been more fitting as Gendered Institutions and Women’s Political Representation in SADC instead of using the term ‘Af rica’. However, the author indicates that these eight countries were chosen strategically as some countries, like Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, and Malawi, have low representation of women in politics, while others, like South Af rica, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya, are known to have high representation of women in politics. Nonetheless, using case studies f rom eight countries out of a continent that consists of 54 countries is not enough to draw a conclusion on women’s overall political representation in Af rica. While efforts have been made to address some systemic barriers to women’s political representation in Af rica, addressing the root causes of gendered institutions requires significant social and cultural changes, political will, and investments in women’s leadership development. Some countries have implemented quota systems and affirmative action policies to ensure women are represented in political institutions. Others have focused on increasing access to education and resources for women or on changing public attitudes toward women’s political leadership. There have also been initiatives to train and mentor women interested in pursuing political careers, providing them with the skills and support necessary to succeed in a challenging environment. By working together to address these challenges, we can create more equitable and inclusive political systems that benefit all members of the society.