Aje's Proposal
Aje's Proposal
Aje's Proposal
WIVES’ REVOLT
BY
AJE, BABASOLA
Matric. No.:
BACHELOR OF ARTS
of the
FEBRUARY, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Background to the study
Throughout history, women have played a significant role in various forms of resistance,
challenging societal norms that tended to suppress and subjugate them and fighting against
oppression. Targets of women’s struggles for social justice include colonial governments, neo-
classical states, transnational corporations and entrenched traditional institutions (Oriola,
2020:235). These struggles have had a catalytic effect on dynamics of social change in
multifarious contexts in Africa.
Women are known to have faced numerous challenges due to prevailing gender stereotype and
social expectations. These gender stereotypes and norms have limited women’s participation in
leadership in various African countries. Women are also often confined to traditional roles, such
as wives, mothers, and homemakers, which have hitherto marginalized their voices and
contributions.
Literature, specifically drama has often been a powerful medium through which playwrights
have expressed their resistance using their characters as symbolic representations. These literary
texts not only capture the struggles and resilience of women, but also serve as a means to inspire
and empower others. From ancient myths to modern drama, female characters often embody the
strength, resilience and determination necessary to challenge societal norms and fight against
oppression.
Zulu Sofola, for instance, in Wedlock of the Gods, explores obnoxious cultural practices that
facilitate the dehumanization and oppression of female folks in the African traditional society. In
Who own this coffin? Tracie Chima Utoh centres on intra-gender subjugation of female folks in
the Nigerian society. Furthermore, civil rights activists like James Baldwin and Audre Lorde
used their literary prowess to resist racial and gender inequalities. Their words have become
rallying cries for justice prompting individuals to challenge oppressive systems and fight for
equality.
Through their portrayal as strong independent and resilient characters, women in literary texts
serve as powerful symbols of resistance against societal norms and oppression. For instance, in
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Owoeye’s Another Wives’ Revolt, the Playwright emphasizes that though the feminine gender is
imperfect, yet, they shouldn’t be without voices, rather, their voices should be allowed to thrive
in clamouring for their indispensability in shaping the society into a better place.
In view of the above, this study will analyse the representation of women as symbols of
resistance in Lara Owoeye’s Erelu and Another Wives’ Revolt, exploring the ways in which their
actions and characteristics contribute to the overall theme of resistance. By examining the
selected texts, this study will shed light on the importance of female agency in challenging
patriarchal structures and inspiring social change.
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Justification of the Study
The study of women as symbols of resistance in literary texts holds significant importance in
understanding the representation of gender roles and the power dynamics within societies. By
focusing on the portrayal of female characters as agents of change and resistance, this study will
challenge prevailing gender stereotypes and shed light on the often overlooked contributions of
women in literature. Furthermore, this research will provide valuable insights into the ways in
which literature reflects and influences societal attitudes towards women, ultimately contributing
to discussions on gender equality and social justice.
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Research methodology
This section entails the description of the procedure employed in carrying out this research work
which includes the use of a text based analysis, online articles, journal, observation and the
writer views to women as symbols of resistance in reference to the text.
To conduct this research a qualitative approach will be employed. Qualitative research allows for
an in-depth analysis of the texts enabling a better understanding of the themes and the portrayal
of women as symbols of resistance. This method involves close reading interpretation and
analysis of the primary texts.
Theoretical framework
The theories of feminism
There are four main types of feminist theory that attempt to explain the societal differences
between men and women. First is gender difference. Gender difference perspective examines
how women’s location in, and experience of, social situations differ from men's. Feminist
theorists believe that the different roles assigned to women and men within institutions better
explain gender difference, including the sexual division of labour in the household. Existential
and phenomenological feminists focus on how women have been marginalized and denied the
opportunity for self-realization (Freedman, 2001).
Second is gender-inequality. This theory recognizes that women have been isolated to the private
sphere of the household and, thus, left without a voice in the public sphere (Freedman, 2001).
Bouchier as cited by Jones (2010) states that family is a basic institution which exploits women.
Further, Fakih (2012) argues that women are still expected to manage the private sphere and take
care of household duties and child rearing making new discrimination to women for it increase
women’s work burden.
Third is gender oppression. According to Barker (2003) oppression is the social act of placing
severe restrictions on an individual, group or institution. While Deuthsch (2006) explains that
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oppression is the experience of repeated, widespread, systemic injustice. With regards to the two
above concepts, the theory of gender oppression argues that not only are women different from
or unequal to men, but they are actively oppressed, subordinated, and even abused by men. To
comprehend the above theory of gender oppression, psychoanalytic feminism such as the
psychology Freud’s view of feminism (Ahmed, 2012) and radical feminism are discussed.
Psychoanalytic feminists attempt to explain power relations between men and women by
reformulating Freud's theories of the subconscious and unconscious, human emotions, and
childhood development. While radical feminists argue that being a woman is a positive thing in
and of itself but that this is not acknowledged in patriarchal societies where women are
oppressed. They identify physical violence as being at the base of patriarchy, but they think that
patriarchy can be defeated if women recognize their own value and strength, establish a
sisterhood of trust with other women, confront oppression critically, and form female separatist
networks in the private and public spheres. Radical feminism is the breeding ground for many of
the ideas arising from feminism. Radical feminism attempts to draw lines between biologically
determined behaviour and culturally determined behaviour in order to be free both men and
women as much as possible from their previous narrow gender roles.
Fourth is structural oppression. This theory posits that women's oppression and inequality are a
result of capitalism, patriarchy, and racism. It seeks to explain oppression and inequality across a
variety of variables, including class, gender, race, ethnicity, and age. It may be said that not all
women experience oppression in the same way. They face different forms of discrimination in
the workplace.
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References