Fieldwork Reflections from South Africa.

Grace,  Gratitude & Grit

My recent trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, to conduct interviews with women judges was a profound exercise in seeing the human side of the judge beyond the robe.  This research initiative, conducted as part of the seven-nation study on the demographic variation among judiciaries, seeks to document the lives, experiences, and contributions of individual Black women judges through their own voices and agency.

Grace: The Human Side Beyond the Robe 

In the courtroom, judges often listen more than they talk; however, this project flipped that equation, centering the judge as the storyteller of her own lived experience. One of the most poignant reflections from the fieldwork involves recognizing the intersecting experiences of these women as jurists, wives, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts and community leaders among other identities.

For instance, one judge shared her story of carrying her young children to her chambers on weekends while working, so she would not feel the “guilt” of leaving them at home on a Saturday while she worked in her chambers. This is one of many examples that remind us of the "hazards of being a working mom" and the domestic responsibilities that persist even at the highest levels of the judiciary.

As I discussed in chapter one of African Women Judges: Storytelling as Judicial Freedom (Dawuni, 2025), these narratives shift the focus from symbolic representation to the lives of the humans behind the judicial office, revealing that the guise of privilege as a judge does not shield a woman from experiencing discrimination or the weight of societal expectations.

Gratitude: Appreciation for Time and Talent

Judges often have heavy caseloads. It is an honor when they make time in their busy schedules to meet with me for these interviews. I extend my deep gratitude to the judges who opened their private lives to me. Judges typically lead very private lives, often withdrawing from society to maintain autonomy and independence. Their willingness to share their time and talent for survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews provides the foundational empirical material needed to theorize about gender and judging in the African context.

The fieldwork revealed a remarkable grace among the participants. Many judges spoke of their "own rules" for self-presentation and conduct to ensure that the judiciary was never brought into disrepute. They utilize simple, clear language in their judgments to ensure that even the losing party understands the reasoning, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and access to justice.

There is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the "warrior women" who continue to push forward against all odds. Their contributions are valued not only for their legal acumen but for the "gendered approach" they bring, informed by lived experiences of racial discrimination, poverty, unemployment, hardship and triumph.

Grit: Storytelling as Freedom

Ultimately, this project draws on my earlier research and views storytelling as a "judicial act of freedom" and a form of "liberatory feminist praxis". By telling their own stories, these bold women judges ensure that history reflects their complete perspective rather than one that is carved in the media or public opinion. These shared experiences serve as vital tools for: 

Mentorship: Providing a guide for younger judges to know that they, too, can succeed. Knowledge Production: Building a field of knowledge that centers African women's intellectual perspectives, and Advocacy: Challenging patriarchal biases and institutional gatekeepers to accelerate systems change.

I am forever indebted to the women judges of South Africa for their grace and grit and for pushing forward to be heard, seen, and acknowledged for their contributions to law, justice and a transformed society.