THEMES OF NEGATIVE TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THE AFRICAN SOCIETY (A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD BY BUCHI EMECHETA
Abstract
This research work is titled “Themes of Negative Treatment of Women in the African Society: A Critical Analysis of Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood. The objective is to change the way women are viewed and treated and the significance of the study is to help bring about a positive attitude towards the treatment of women in the society. The methodology used for this research is purely archival. The researcher consulted the internet, libraries, journals and had an indepth interview with three scholars and their views formed a part of the findings of this work. This research found out that women are often regarded as second class citizens. This study recommends that women, generally, need to be oriented and encouraged, awareness should be created to help those who do not know much about the problems faced by women. This project work concludes that women who are enlightened and exposed should help educate, network and re-orientate other women to erase stigmatization and ill treatment.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of contents vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background of study 1
- Statement of problem 4
- Purpose of study 4
1.4 Significance of study 5
1.5 Research questions 6
1.6 Scope of study 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction 8
2.1 Concept of feminism 8
2.2 History of feminism 12
2.3 Types of feminism 18
2.4. Factors influencing negative treatment of women 35
2.5 Suggested solution to the negative treatment of 43
women
CHAPTER THREE
- About the author 46
3.2 Synopsis of the text-The Joys of Motherhood 51
3.3 The ill-treatment of women in the text 58
The Joys of Motherhood
- Analysis of four major characters 61
CHAPTER FOUR
- Introduction 69
4.1 The style of the author 69
4.2 Narrative techniques 70
4.3 Subject matter 71
4.4 The setting 72
4.5 Plot 75
4.6 Themes 82
4.7 Language 92
4.8 Literary devices 93
4.9 Characterization 97
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Introduction 103
5.1 Summary 103
5.2 Findings 104
5.3 Recommendations 106
5.4 Conclusions 108
References 109
Interview questions 111
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Feminism is defined as a doctrine or movement that advocates equal rights and opportunities for women.
Feminism is the collection of movement and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal political, economic, cultural and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment.
The history of feminism can be divided into three periods or waves; first, second and third wave.
First wave feminism focused on overturning legal inequalities, particularly women suffrage. Second wave feminism broadened debate to include cultural inequalities, gender norms and the roles of women in the society while the third wave refers to the diverse strains of feminist activities and as a continuation of the second wave.
The Joys of Motherhood is a novel (African) written by Buchi Emecheta. It was first published by Allison and Busby in 1979 and reprinted in Heinemann’s African Writers series. The novel The Joys of Motherhood portrays the picture of women being treated unfairly and seen as inferior to the male gender, and it also depicts the advocacy of equal rights and opportunities for women in the African society.
The basis of the novel is the necessity for a woman to be fertile, and above all give birth to male children, in essence, not viewing female children as important. The novel depicts the turmoil and strife that women in the African society suffer from.
The African belief about the female child in the society brings about the ill-treatment and inferiority and it has also made the female child to be deprived of some rights such as education, employment etc.
The Joys of Motherhood tells the tragic story of Nnu-Ego, daughter of Nwokocha Agbadi and Ona, who had a bad fate with childbearing. In the book, Nnu Ego and her husband give up everything for their sons’ education but they never thought about giving any form of education to the female children. Daughters were looked at as an investment, who would eventually get married and bring in good bride price which would likely be used to pay the fees of the male children.
Emecheta focuses on the role of women in traditional African cultures and the conflicts they face as they are forced to assimilate into a colonial-influenced lifestyle.
- STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Due to customs and beliefs existing in the African society, women are seen as being inferior and should not be given equal rights and opportunities as the other gender.
The women are seen as just subjects under the men and a mere house material that has no value. Due to this belief, the women in the African society are treated unfairly, just as it is seen in Buchi Emecheta’s “The Joys of Motherhood”.
So, in this study, the themes of negative treatment of women in the African society will be analyzed and solutions will be suggested.
- PURPOSE OF STUDY
The purpose of study is therefore summarized as follows:
- To find out the reason for women’s ill-treatment in the African society.
- To find out the attitude and view of the people about the negative treatment of women in the African society.
iii. To proffer solutions to the problem of women’s negative treatment in the African society.
- To determine the extent at which the negative treatment affects the life of women.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The result of the study will no doubt be a valuable document to mankind in the African society and abroad. It will disclose the effect and disadvantages of the negative treatment of women.
This study will also help in bringing about a positive attitude towards the treatment of women and also encourage women to know and stand for their rights
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What are the factors responsible for the negative treatment of women in the African society?
- What are the attitude and view of the people about the negative treatment of women in the African society?
- What are the solutions to women’s negative treatment in the African society?
- How does this treatment affect the lives of these women?
1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY
This study will focus mainly on the ill-treatment of women in the African society based on the selected text: The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta.
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