PATRIARCHY DOMINATION IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND ATA AMA AIDOO’S ANOWA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study

The word “patriarchy” comes from Greek, patria means father and arche means rule and thus, patriarchy means rule of the father. The anthropologists defines patriarchy as a system where  men  dominate in society through their positions of power; the majority of higher economic, political industrial, financial, religious and social positions are governed by men. In gender studies patriarchy refers to a social organization that marked by supremacy of one are more female figures or men in general; women and children are subordinated in this system Maria Olaussen uses in her work the definition of patriarchy from the Webster Dictionary. “Patriarchy is a social organization marked by supremacy of the father in class of family in both domestic and functions the legal dependence of wife or wives and children and the male line” (Olaussen, 102). Feminist of most persuasions believes patriarchy to be a system valuing power over life, control over pleasure and dominance over happiness, and they examine how gender interacts with ethnicity power and social class.        

Patriarchy literally means rule by men. It is a situation whereby women are ruled or controlled by men, giving power and importance to men. It is also an institutions used to describe societal attitude. This is why Gordon Taylor used the word “patrist” to describe attitudes.  According to him the patrists are on the opinion that patriarchal system of authority is the original social organization.

PATRIARCHY DOMINATION IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND ATA AMA AIDOO’S ANOWA

Looking at the feminist theory, patriarchy refers to the structure of modern cultural and political systems which are ruled and controlled by men. According to feminists, such systems are said to be detrimental to the rights of women that has been noted over time and that patriarchal system of government does not favour the female folks. This reason makes critics like Allan Durant and Nigel Fabb to say that, human species  are  biologically fixed, binary sex division between male and female, but super imposed on this are culturally constructed oppositions of gender between men and women (43).

They further opined that this system of oppositions of gender is caused by the obnoxious cultural practices.  This is why female writers write about societal prejudices such as; cultural domination, patriarchal domination and gender discrimination. It is on this point that the Islamic author Alphy Plakkoottam argues that ‘Islamic society is a society of inequality between men and women with cultural discrimination. He said, as long as Islam propagates and condones multiple marriages, a man and woman relationship will not improve.

This assertion makes Mariama Bâtoopine that African women writers write on the effect of gender inequalities, exploitation and ageless barbaric oppression of the so-called weaker sex. She also opines that discriminations are still abundant inside families and institutions, on the street, in political assemblies, even in the place of work.

No doubt, African cultural practices make women to be voiceless because of the societal cultural practices that impose oppression, humiliation, discrimination and patriarchal suppression of women. The above form the basic point in the background to this study.

1.2       Statement of the problem       

The writings of Flora Nwapa and Ata Ama Aidoo centre on the issue of patriarchal domination, disillusionment, discrimination and suppression of African women.

These writers write to eradicate the negative effects of African cultural societies from patriarchal nature having the men in charge of all affairs and while neglecting women’s rights.

PATRIARCHY DOMINATION IN FLORA NWAPA’S ONE IS ENOUGH AND ATA AMA AIDOO’S ANOWA

1.3       Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to analyse the negative issue in patriarchy domination in Flora Nwapa’s One is Enough and Ata Ama Aidoo’s Anowa.

1.4       Significance of the study 

The significance of this research stems for African women because it reveals the issues affecting them in different aspects of their life; their community status, place of work , job opportunities,  educational attainment and as  well as house wives.

The study will also be significant to researchers by mean of finding Nwapa and Aidoo’s issue on women’s predicaments.  English and literature students will also find this work important as well   as the reader of this work.

Originally posted on April 25, 2021 @ 6:32 am