[4] According to Mama, the journal was created partly in response to a bias in existing scholarship towards the "Women In Development" (WID) perspective.

Particular topics covered by the journal include: women's activism, sexism in higher education, militarism and peace, and gender-related violence.

[5][6] Patricia van der Spuy and Lindsay Clowes write that the publication of the journal marked an important step in the development of South African feminism.

[9][10] These international contributors have raised the journal's profile but barred it from receiving Department of Education subsidies.

[4] Feminist Africa does not receive funds from the University of Cape Town (although it is edited by salaried UCT workers) and relies on sponsorship by international donors—particularly the Ford Foundation and Hivos.