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 a well-known scholar, writer, and educator from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). She is also an activist who has worked for many years to bring about positive change. For over 20 years, she was involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, which fought against unfair laws in South Africa.

McFadden has also been very active in movements around the world that support women's rights. As a writer, she has sometimes faced challenges because of her strong opinions. She has worked as an editor for important publications like the Southern African Feminist Review. Today, she continues to teach and speak internationally about issues important to women. She has taught at universities in the United States, including Cornell University and Syracuse University. She also helps women's groups in Southern Africa become stronger and more lasting.

Early Life and Education

Patricia McFadden studied at the University of Botswana and Swaziland. There, she focused on politics and how governments are run. She also studied economics and sociology.

Later, she went to the University of Dar es Salaam to earn her master's degree in sociology. In 1987, she completed her PhD at Warwick University in the United Kingdom.

Career and Activism

From 1993 to 2005, Patricia McFadden worked in Zimbabwe as a program officer for the Southern African Regional Institute for Policy Studies (SARIPS). She helped manage important projects there.

She was also the editor of the Southern African Feminist Review from 1995 to 2000. From 1998 to 2000, she served as an international dean at the International Women's University (IFU) in Hanover, Germany. McFadden also taught in a master's program at SARIPS for several years. She was a professor at Syracuse University, both in their study abroad program in Zimbabwe and at their main campus in New York.

Fighting for Rights

As a writer, McFadden focuses on important ideas about the rights and roles of African women. She has given many talks and presentations at universities and conferences around the world. She has shared her ideas in countries like Norway, South Africa, Ghana, China, and the United Kingdom.

Awards and Recognition

Patricia McFadden has received awards for her important work.

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