The Struggles of the Female Gender equality in the Light of the Socio-cultural Realities of the traditional society

Abstract

This paper examines the struggles of the female gender in the light of the socio-cultural realities of the traditional African society from a feminist perspective. Adopting a content analysis as its methodology, Joys of Motherhood mirrors the attitude and perceptions of the male gender against the females. It also unearths the disparities that exist between both genders thereby leading to undue subjugation of women. Thus, a feminist literary criticism shall be undertaken to bring to light the various forms of discrimination and gender biases.

Introduction

The term ‘feminism’ is relatively modern, though there are debates over when and where it was first used. However, the term ‘feminist’ as put forward by some scholars like Fraisse in 1995 was first used in 1871 in a French medical text to describe a cessation in development of the sexual organs and characteristics in male patients, who were perceived as thus suffering from ‘feminization of their bodies. This term was later adopted by Alexander Dumas; a French writer in his pamphlet I’Homme Femme to signify various women emancipation movement. Feminism is a socio-political movement chiefly concerned about the plight of women in the society which is basically patterned along patriarchal configurations with little or no regard for the female gender. Before expanding in terms of scope and interest, feminism largely began in the West as an institution with the women’s suffrage movement; a movement begun by a group of liberal white women advocating for women’s right to vote at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This landmark event provides an insight to understand and grasp the tenets or concerns of feminism. It is a term that emerged long after women started questioning their inferior status and demanding an amelioration in their social position.

The motivations behind the development of feminism borders on the need to advance the position of women through such means as achievement of political, legal or economic rights equal to those granted the opposite gender (men). These aspirations form the basic thrust for the development of feminism in the West and other parts of the world, Africa inclusive. Defining feminism can be challenging but does not suggest that the diverse opinions and contributions as regards the concept are unacceptable as feminism chiefly centres around advocacy for the right and dignity of women. Vasquez in Reddock views feminism as ‘the struggle to end sexist oppression’ (28). He goes further to opine that feminism does not solely aim to benefit women or any group of women neither does it privilege women over men rather it hinges on the notion of equity amongst the genders and not equality. In order to entertain and perhaps welcome broader concerns of feminism, Reddock defines it thus: the awareness of the oppression, exploitation and subordination of women within societies and the conscious action to change and transform this situation (26)

On a wider and general perspective, feminism is a proposal for social transformation and a movement that strives to end the oppression of women in the society. Nwamaka stresses that ‘feminism seeks a subjective identity, a sense of effective agency and history for women which has hitherto been denied them by dominant (male) culture, (14). Nnolim asserts thus, ‘feminism as a movement and ideology urges in simple terms recognition of the claims of women for equal rights with men…’ (114). In other words, it is a conscious attempt aimed at liberating the female gender from the inherent cultural and socio- political subjugation and conditioning of the female gender in the society. The society is chiefly fashioned along lines of gender discrimination such as assigning or confining certain roles to women by the men who feel that that is a limit to which a woman can go far as far as the society is concerned. Thus, the advocates of feminism see it as a strong response to stereotypes and misgivings held by the lot of the society against the female gender.

Historically, feminist thought and activities tend to be classified into three waves. These are first wave feminism, second wave feminism and the third wave feminism movement. The first wave feminism had vocal women like Mary Wollstonecraft; an author and thought leader in the early 19th century Britain, at the forefront for feminist cause. It was later organized by group of middle class women who focused their attention on issues ranging from education, unemployment and marriage laws of the time. This group now referred to as feminist never choose the title for themselves as such, but their struggle paved way for the married women property Act of 1870.

The second wave which began in the late 1960s continued to fight for equality and calling for the protection of women’s. It also witnessed the development of a range of approaches that drew attention to the specific needs of women. Lastly, third wave began in the 20th century to check the short comings of the second wave. These feminist groups consist of upper and middle class white women who focused on racial prejudices and work place inequality. It is what is now known as modern feminism and practiced by most feminist.

In the same vein, feminism in Africa responds to various forms of discrimination against the female gender which has permeated the continent’s social and political landscapes. It provides a forum for the intellectual activism to wither down the chauvinistic state of the typical African society. In other words, African feminism asserts the African women’s narration and view as routes to understand her experiences.

Feminism in Nigeria

Although the origin of feminism is traced to the West, it is not alien to Nigeria especially as now commands a huge following and popularity in the nation’s political, academic and socio-economic spheres. The concept of feminism has largely featured in the works of many prominent Nigerian writers like Zaynab Alkali, Buchi Emecheta, Zulu Sofola, amongst many others. However, it is important to know that in the work of some first generation writers like Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart, there is adequate portrayal of the role of women in a typical African community which obviously portrays women as second class citizens in the African community. This may be the reason why most Nigeria female writers and even the male writers such as Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, J.P Clark and many others have been writing to empower their female characters in order to correct the ill-notion of culture about the women.

These works capture the reality of the Nigerian society with strong patrilineal manifestations but also demonstrate the underlying strengths and relevance of women. Feminism in Nigeria looks at the peculiarities of the Nigerian society as regards the place, role and position of women as conditioned by the social and cultural parameters and conditioning.

Background to the Study

The situation of women in African societies particularly Nigeria has never been easy but it has improved a lot over the years as more attention is drawn towards the plight of women. It is not uncommon to find cases of the female gender being at the receiving end of multifaceted forms of violence and discrimination. Most worrisome is the fact that many of these victims go on without any form of reprieve. It is against this backdrop of events that spurs writers like Buchi Emecheta to address many of these obnoxious practices against the female while also presenting the stereotyped gender (females) as capable of achieving dreams and goals in life. Through her works, she advances the notion that women can actualize their dreams regardless of their marital or socio-economic challenges. Thus, in her novel Joys of Motherhood, we see the misconception and neglect of the girl child in traditional Igbo society which is a microcosm of the Nigerian society. Sadly, undue emphasis is placed on the male child who is seen as the chain that would continue to sustain the link and name of a family. On the contrary, we also see women emerging as strong achievers in spite of the social-cultural configurations against them. For instance, Nnu Ego and Adaku turn out to realize their dreams and break away from the confines of relegation to the background. In this regard, Emecheta’s Joys of Motherhood is indeed a literary masterpiece that centres on feminism in every regard. As such, the feminist ideologies explored and presented in the novel will be subsequently examined.