Reframing Gender Equality in Namibia: “Reverse Gender Inequalities”, Boys’ Underachievement, and the Politics of Inclusive Gender Justice
April 29 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
CSAAD Africa~Diaspora Forum Series
CSAAD PostDoctoral Fellow Presentation
Dr. Michael Linso Conteh
CSAAD Spring 2026 PostDoctoral Fellow
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
*VIRTUAL EVENT*
Zoom link: https://nyu.zoom.us/j/97084042638
Please join CSAAD for our lecture discussion with CSAAD’s Spring 2026 PostDoctoral Fellow, Dr. Michael Linso Conteh. The discourse on gender equality in Namibia has historically focused on the empowerment of the girl child and women, a necessary response to systemic patriarchal structures and post-colonial disparities. However, emerging evidence suggests a shifting landscape characterized by “reverse gender inequalities”, where the Namibian boy child increasingly faces marginalization within the educational and socio-economic spheres. This presentation examines the status of the boy child in Namibia, analyzing the manifestations and drivers of male underachievement and under-participation. It posits that gender equality policy must move from a primarily corrective focus on girls and women toward a relational and inclusive model that also addresses boys’ marginalization.
For accommodations, please contact the Assistant Director for the Center for the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora at ac8829@nyu.edu.
Register Here
Bio:
Dr. Michael Conteh is an interdisciplinary and publicly engaged scholar and holds a Ph.D. in Global Affairs from Rutgers University’s Graduate School. His extensive research focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, where he has been a driving force in advancing gender equity initiatives. Before and during his graduate studies, Dr. Conteh oversaw key programs to institutionalize gender studies at the University of Namibia and a national research project on gender-based violence and understanding the nature and scope of human trafficking in Namibia, demonstrating his multifaceted and interdisciplinary expertise. His doctoral dissertation investigated the role of universities as anchor institutions in their host cities, analyzing global financial capital flows and their impact on universities’ community engagement strategies through a comparative lens of the United States and the Global South.