African conceptions of person as gender, ableist and anti-queer

Abstract

This research aims to indicate the sense in which African conceptions of personhood can be considered gendered, ableist and anti-queer. In making the case for this, I look at the Force Thesis, Shadow Thesis and Ifeanyi Menkiti’s “normative conception of persons”. I argue that each of these theories marginalizes at least one of the categories of gender, people with disabilities or queer people in their account of personhood. Therefore, I conclude that they should be rejected as plausible theories of personhood insofar as it can be argued that inclusive theories of personhood are preferable. Namely, theories of personhood that consider gender, people with disabilities and queer people.