Queen Mothers and Cyberfeminist Movements in Ghana

Abstract

This teaching case study explores how traditional female leadership and cyberfeminism intersect to challenge gender inequality in Ghana’s digital landscape. While men are often seen as default tech users, women face cultural and structural barriers to digital access and leadership. The case highlights how Queen Mothers, respected female leaders rooted in matriarchal traditions, play a transformative role in promoting digital literacy and empowerment among girls and women through initiatives like Girls-in-ICT and Girls-in-Engineering. These programs offer training in coding, digital skills, and STEM fields, while Queen Mothers use their influence to shift cultural norms, engage entire communities, and advocate for inclusive technology access. Ghanaian cyberfeminist groups like Pepper Dem Ministries also utilize social media to challenge patriarchal stereotypes, though internal debates persist about strategy and tone. The case argues that culturally rooted leadership combined with digital activism can effectively bridge the gender digital divide and promote sustainable, community-driven empowerment.