Culture and Discrimination against Women in Buchi Emecheta’s the Joys of Motherhood and Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus

 

Abstract

This study explores culture and discrimination against women in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.  The study has shown that over the years, the major challenge facing the female folks is discrimination and unfair treatment in the society. It is also discovered that several cultural practices discriminates and oppresses the female folks. Such practices are identified in the selected texts for this research work and critically examined. Therefore, it is hoped that an awareness of such practices will eventually be eradicates, the social inequalities that are engendered by such practices in African Society.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS                                                                                                       PAGES

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                   -           -           -           -           -           1

1.2       Statement of the Problem       -           -           -           -           -           -           2

1.3       Purpose of the Study  -           -           -           -           -           -           3

1.4       Significance of the Study       -           -           -           -           -           -           3

1.5       Research Methodology                       -           -           -           -           -           4

1.6       Objectives of the Study          -           -           -           -           -           -           4

1.7       Scope and Delimitation          -           -           -           -           -           -           4

1.8       Bio-Data of Buchi Emecheta -           -           -           -           -           -           5

1.9       Bio Data of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-     -           -           -           -           7

1.10     Definition of Terms    -           -           -           -           -           -           8

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Concept of Discrimination           -           -           -           -           -           -           7

CHAPTER THREE:            ANALYSIS OF THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

Analysis of the Novel -           -           -           -           -           -           -           11

Preference of Male over Female Child           -           -           -           -           -           12

Wife Battering            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           16

Dereliction of Duties  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           17

Early Marriage and Bride Price          -           -           -           -           -           -           18

Sacrifice to Gods        -           -                       -           -           -           -           -           20

Survival of Women without Men       -           -           -           -           -           -           20

Characterization          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           21

Language and Style    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           23

Narrative Technique in the Novel       -           -           -           -           -           -           23

CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF PURPLE HIBISCUS

Analysis of the Novel -           -           -           -           -           -           -           25

Wife Battering            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           26

Preference of Male Child to Female   -           -           -           -           -           27

Maltreatment of Women by Men       -           -           -           -           -           -           29

Child Upbringing        -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           30

Effects of Discrimination on Women -           -           -           -           -           32

Survival of Women without Men       -           -           -           -           -           -           34

Narrative Technique in Purple Hibiscus         -           -           -           -           -           36

Characterization          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           37

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           39

5.2 Conclusion            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           40

5.3 Recommendations            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           41

WORKS CITED

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Throughout history, women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men have. Wifehood and womanhood were considered as women’s most significant professions, and they are long considered naturally weaker than men are. Their rights and being are taken for granted. Silence becomes the virtue of women but with education, the silence is broken. Chambers 21st. century dictionary says:

Culture is the custom, ideas, values of a particular civilization, society or social group, especially at a particular time, and the appreciation of art, music, literature, improvement and development through care and training. (P.327)

Reuters .T. reports that; “Discrimination is to distinguish, single out, or make a distinction in everyday life, when faced with more than one option.” For the purpose of this research, the definition of women in chambers 21st century dictionary is used “women generally: the female sex.” (1631) Wikipedia assert that, “discrimination against women is the attitude and beliefs in relation to the female gender that they are less important, such beliefs and attitudes are of social nature and do not normally carry any legal consequences.”

      With these definitions, we can therefore define culture and discrimination against women as the cultural practices against the female folks that support men. Discrimination against women has become customs passed from generations to generations. In African, many cultural practices are against women. Women are beaten by husbands and are always blamed for not being able to produce children. Even when it is not confirmed that they are responsible for the marital problems, they suffer for those problems. Married woman could be replaced at anytime by their husbands because culture supports that men could marry many women.

      Female children are not always given the best upbringing; they are trained in the kitchen, instead of school. Male children are brought up well because they are known to be the people who will take their family from generations to generation. Therefore, with the use of Buchi Emecheta’s work, The Joys of Motherhood, many discriminatory acts against woman will be analyzed; to signify the cultural practices discriminating against women. Also, through the works of Chimamanda Adichie; Purple Hibiscus, discrimination against women will be identified. Cultural practices discriminating against women have been on for long and needs to stop.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The level of injustice and negative portrayal of female discrimination in the African society and African literary work have lead to a clash between male and female writers

There is also a problem of literary representation of female characters as “second class citizens” who are mostly being denied of their individual and naturally rights.

Equally, in African literary work, female characters are mostly victims of discrimination as an appendage to male characters. Therefore, this research work seeks to investigate the manner in which female children are discriminated in African society as a result of culture.