Patricia McFadden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patricia McFadden
Born	1952 (age 72–73)
Nationality	Swazi
Alma mater	University of Botswana and Swaziland University of Dar es Salaam Warwick University (PhD)

Patricia McFadden (born in 1952) is an important African thinker, writer, and teacher from Eswatini. She is known for her work as a feminist, which means she believes in equal rights and opportunities for women. Patricia is also a sociologist, someone who studies how societies work.

She has been an activist and scholar, which means she actively works for change and studies important topics. For over 20 years, she was involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, a fight against unfair racial separation in South Africa. She has also worked with groups around Africa and the world that support women's rights. As a writer, she faced challenges because of her political views. Today, she teaches and speaks internationally about issues important to women. She has taught at well-known universities in the United States, like Cornell University and Syracuse University. She also helps women in Southern Africa create safe and lasting spaces to discuss feminist ideas.

Patricia's Early Life and Education

Patricia McFadden studied at the University of Botswana and Swaziland. There, she focused on politics and how governments are run, also learning about economics and sociology. Later, she went to the University of Dar es Salaam to earn a master's degree in sociology. She then continued her studies in the United Kingdom, getting her PhD from Warwick University in 1987.

Patricia's Career and Work

From 1993 to 2005, Patricia worked in Zimbabwe at the Southern African Regional Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS). She was a program officer, helping to manage projects.

She was also the editor of the Southern African Feminist Review from 1995 to 2000. This was a magazine that shared feminist ideas from Southern Africa. From 1998 to 2000, she served as an international dean at the International Women’s University (IFU) in Hanover, Germany.

Patricia also taught in a special master's program at SARIPS for seven years. She was a visiting professor at Syracuse University's study abroad program in Zimbabwe. Later, she became a faculty member in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University in New York.

Sharing Her Ideas Worldwide

Patricia McFadden has traveled to many countries to share her ideas. She has given talks at universities, conferences, and seminars in places like Norway, Sweden, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil, China, Germany, and the United Kingdom. She speaks about important topics related to women's rights and social justice.

Awards and Recognition

• She received the Hellman/Hammett Human Rights Award from Human Rights Watch in 1999. This award recognizes writers who have faced challenges because of their work.
• In 2019, she was a main speaker at the AFEMS conference at the University of the Witwatersrand.