The Theme of Culture and Discrimination against Women in the Joys of Motherhood and Purple Hibiscus
Abstract
This study explores culture and discrimination against women in Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood. The study has shown that over the years, the major challenges facing the female folks are 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 text for this research work and critically examined. The researcher uses radical Feminism to show that women should be treated equally as men and that gender differences is no excuse for discrimination. This research work aim at bringing out how cultural practices affect women, the pain it brings and the survival of women .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. Finally, the study recommends that the study of literature should be made compulsory to secondary school scholars because literature gives the learners insight into realities of life and helps improve the moral etiquette of the students against corrupt practices and other social ills and vices.
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:
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.
The Theme of Culture and Discrimination against Women in the Joys of Motherhood and Purple Hibiscus
1.3 Purpose of Study
The study intends to examine culture and discrimination against women, using two carefully selected novels as primary data, Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus. Using radical Feminism to show that women should be treated equally as men and that gender differences is no excuse for discrimination. This research work aim at bringing out how cultural practices affect women, the pain it brings and the survival of women.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This study is significant in the following ways;
- it reveals some cultural practices that affect the women
- the study reveals the root cause of this cultural practices
iii. the study also helps to correct the negative portrayal of women as second class citizen in African literature .
- Equally, this work helps to bring liberation to women in African societies.
- it will also helps to boost love and unity among men and women and possibly put an end to the clash between men and women
1.5 Research Methodology
This research work intends to carry out an investigation on culture and discrimination against women, through the proper analysis in two carefully selected novels Buchi Emecheta and Chimamande Adichie: The Joys of Motherhood and Purple Hibiscus respectively. In analyzing these books, radical feminism will be used.
Finally, the researcher will use the two novels as primary source of information, while sources like internet will be used for more collection of data.
1.6 Objectives of the Study
- The objective of this research work is to specifically ascertain why women are being discriminated in African society using Buchi Emecheta and Chimamande Adichie: The Joys of Motherhood and Purple Hibiscus
- To examine and investigate how culture affects women in African fiction.
iii. To also examine the effect of culture and discrimination against women.
1.7 Scope and Limitation
The researcher finds it difficult to bring out so many cultural practices discriminating against women, as a result of limited time coupled with financial constrain available for the study.
As such, this work will analyze culture and discrimination against women only in two selected novels. The research will also limit its scope on some materials from the library, internet and the two selected novels: Buchi Emecheta and Chimamanda Adichie: The Joys of Motherhood and Purple Hibiscus respectively.