Els 105 Assignment

The Word “Feminism” is the belief in social, Economic, and political equality
of the sexes, Although largely originating in the west, feminism is the

manifested worldwide and is represented by various institutions committed to
activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.
Feminism is fighting for the equality of the sexes. A feminist isn’t a man-
hater, feminism isn’t about bringing men down, it’s raising women up, which
brings about the emergence of feminism in the Nigerian literature, just like the
author of the book Zainabu Jallo titled “Onions make us cry” she
metaphorically wrote this text and she is also a feminist.
Zainabu in her book metaphorically enlightened the people about the
oppression of women in marriages and the need of feminism in the society that
can go against the oppressive treatment of women in the society.
“Onions make us cry” is replete with fine poetry. But all that seems to serve
as sweet syrup to enable we the reader digest the bitterness of the play’s
subject matter and themes without extreme resentment. But beneath the poetic
ornament the play come out forcefully to reveal the horrifying experience of
women in abusive marriages and conjure strong images of slavery all its
undignified association.
1. DOMINANCE AND SUBMISSIVE ELEMENTS.
In abusive relationships there exists a lopsided power structure with clearly
dominant and submissive elements, the oppressor and oppressed. This is
obvious in the relationship between Malinda and Daniel Jandayi and that
between Lola and Ali Gambari. The husband call the shot and wives must
submit, just like the slave to the slave master. In situation one of the play Lola
comprises her professional ethics just to be available for their wedding
anniversary dinner date so he would not be offended. Malinda seems to sum up
the unbalanced power relations between the spouses in the response to
Ezekiel’s question about the nature of her relationship with her late husband.
Ezekiel: “What really were you?
Malinda: “Green and grass, the robot and the control box and the
symphony”
2. VIOLENCE
In addition to or deriving from this skewed power structure is extreme violence
from the stranger element to the weaker one. Both Malinda and Lola are
victims of violence from their respective partners.
As hinted above, the cumulative manifestation in f domestic violence is
identity crisis or split consciousness on the part of the victim. This arise from a
dual mode of knowing and experiencing the world one mode, representing
actual lived experience is from within the victim while the other mode is
imposed by the society. The victim is thus torn between the exhibiting the
reality of actual liver experience and the need to conform to expected standard
of behavior to avoid the trauma of social stigma. This identity crisis is what
make Malinda refer to herself and Lola as ghost in situation one of the abused
woman in a society that expect her to condone domestic violence in conformity
to social-cultural standards that denigrates the dignity of her humanity.
This book can be justified as a feminist play cause it write against the
oppression of women in the society.
• A character role that justify the play as feminist oriented was played Ezekiel
Bajomo a law attorney who is set to defend a victim and a suspect murderer in
the court ( Malinda ). Ezekiel is a feminist who is against the oppression of
women in the society. And through the legal means he fight against the
oppression and inequality of women.
At the closing stage of the play we see the appearance of Ezekiel to question
his Client and the response of his client show she is a victim of domestic
violence and the murder of her husband might not be deliberate action, it might
be act of self defense who knows? Am just saying.
• Malinda as a victim was also a feminist against the oppression of women not
only in marriage but also in the society. She knew her clinic psychologist was
also in a mess marriage and might end up like her. Malinda ends saving Lola
and Lola shows her appreciation to Malinda at the end of the play.
NUMBER THREE
Feminist Empowerment
This refers to the process by which women gain power and control over their
own lives and acquire the ability to make strategic choices.
The question borders on contradiction or justification of feminist empowerment
in the play.
The ball is in your court, but these few questions you should ask yourself would
help you think in the right direction.
Were the female characters really able to determine or control the turnout of
events in their lives?
If they did, to what extent?
This is the much I can do and it only serves as a guide to help with the
assignment. I'm not the fountain of all knowledge and as such, I don't claim this
guide is perfect, therefore I am open to corrections and would very much
appreciate your own innovative ideas.

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The Word “Feminism” is the belief in social, Economic, and political equality

of the sexes, Although largely originating in the west, feminism is the

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