braun2014
Braun, Lesley Nicole: |
CONTENTS
Abstract i
Acknowledgements x
List of Figures viii
Dedication ix
Introduction 1
Feminist Scholarship 5
Sexuality and Gift Economy 8
Women and Work 10
The Body 12
Performance and Gender 14
Plan of Dissertation 17
Chapter 1
A Brief History of Women in the City 21
Christianity in the Léopoldville 22
From the Congo Independent State to the Belgian Congo 24
Urbanization and Gender Relations 27
La Femme Libre and L’Évolué 31
Muses for a New Urban Popular Culture 35
La Kinoiserie & Nganda Love 39
Authenticité and the Female Body 47
Débrouillardisme 49
Pentecostalism in Kinshasa 51
Chapter 2
Methodology / Research site 55
Ethnicity 57
Research Site 59
Research Periods 59
Initial Points of Contact 61
Research Participants 66
Performative Contexts 76
Chapter 3
“Everything Depends on Where She is Dancing” 80
Importance of Dance in Kinshasa 83
How do Women Learn to Dance 84
Women and Performance 89
Popular Concerts and Venues 90
Wakes/matangas 94
Parcelle Parties 100
End-of-School Parties 104
Nightclubs 109
Dance Politics and Dance in Church 111
Conclusion 114
Chapter 4
A Virtuous Performance 117
Married vs. Single 123
Performing Virtue Through Symbols 128
Conclusion 146
Chapter 5
Temptress: Mixed Messages/Double Binds 148
Gift Economy, Love, Débrouillardisme 150
Transactional Sex 152
Débrouillardisme & Moral Contradictions 161
Temptress: Female Motifs/Mami Wata 163
Living Alone 176
Conclusion: The Trickiness of Female Virtue & Débrouillardisme 178
Chapter 6
Center Stage but at the Margins 182
Setting the Stage 182
In the Shadow of the Ndumba 184
Parental Concerns 190
Moral Plays on Dancing 195
Bound to Men: Relationships of Power and Opportunity 206
In the Hot Seat: Television Interview with Blanche Neige 211
Conclusion 227
Chapter 7
Working Women in Public 230
Male Solicitation 233
“It’s the Law”: Gender Inequality 235
The Many Transactions of Mamas Cambistes 244
In the Public Eye, in the Public’s Gaze: Female Journalists 248
A Woman in Politics 250
Miss Coulibaly 252
Conclusion 255
Chapter 8
Trading Virtue for Virtuosity 257
Visibility: Performing on Television 260
Male Gaze 265
Dancing the Paradox: The Marginal Position of the Danseuse 279
Bottom Power 281
Conclusion 284
Bibliography 289
Appendix 313