When Women Co-Operate: A Feminist Reading of the Narratives on the Daughters of Zelophehad

By Gifty Ama Kyerewaa Dei Dawson

Abstract

The narratives on the daughters of Zelophehad have been read differently by scholars all over the world (Sakenfeld, 1995; Mbuyayesango, 2003 & Claasens, 2013). The focus has mostly been on the courage of the daughters. Some scholars have condemned them for partaking in the imperialist role, however, much attention has not been drawn to the sisterly bond that existed between the daughters and how this bond helped them attain their goal. This paper applies feminist critical method to read the narratives on the daughters of Zelophehad pointing to the cooperation between these women. The paper concludes that the assertion “women are their own enemies” is a patriarchal view that denies women the opportunity to enjoy familial relationship among themselves. Thus, when women cooperate, they gain economic freedom which contributes to the peace and development of the family and the society they belong to.