From Equality to Liberation: Re-Evaluating Gender Transformation in the Global South

The discussion on gender transformation has predominantly been articulated via the perspective of gender equality, through constitutional rights, legal forms, policy measures, and institutional representation. This article reframes the paradigm of gender transformation in the Global South from a focus on equality to a focus on liberation. Although Global North liberal feminism-inspired equality measures have improved representation and legislative reforms, they are nonetheless constrained by neoliberal, technocratic, and epistemically colonial presumptions. The paper makes the case that real change necessitates breaking down the structural, cultural, and epistemic underpinnings of colonialism and patriarchy, drawing on postcolonial feminist theory. It presents freedom as a decolonial practice with roots in inclusive masculinities, community action, and indigenous knowledge systems. It emphasises the significance of community-driven initiatives, radical feminist practices, and localized approaches in confronting patriarchal systems that perpetuate oppression. The article illustrates how locally based initiatives produce long-lasting, context-responsive change using examples from Africa and other Southern countries. A Southern epistemology of gender justice that emphasizes relational ethics, collective emancipation, and emancipatory social transformation is presented in the study's conclusion.