ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an analytical description of the evolution of the Namibian women's movement. While both men and women in exile benefited from contact with other feminisms, they inevitably lost touch with practical conditions inside Namibia. Namibia is characterized by complex geographical and ethnic distinctions that complicate the nation's urban-rural divide. Namibia's rich cultural variety became the basis for profound political and economic discrimination, the effects of which are proving difficult to eradicate in the post independence era. In order to understand the challenges faced by the women's movement in Namibia, it is necessary to examine the complex divisions and diversity that characterize this small nation. The most significant women's group in Namibia in the pre independence era was another ecumenical organization, the Namibia Women's Voice. Many activists have realized that these projects can serve as an entry point for further mobilization.
