Gender Ideology and Social Crises in Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Clouds and Men Without Ears
Chapter One
Purpose of the Study
Drawing from Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Clouds (1982) and Men without Ears (1984), the main purpose of this study will be to examine the cause of social problem in the society, gender disparity as well as manifestations of feminism in modern African literature. This becomes pertinent because there is problem of this disparity especially as it affects matrimonial home and the society at large. This study will also consider the effects of social crises on the society at large and as well, proffer solutions on how to redeem the image of women from the abyss of despair.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Every nation or community has a moral standard setting out what the good or bad behaviour is, in its interaction within itself and other peoples or communities. It is also true that communities sometimes differ in their customs and traditions; owing to differences in geographical and historical influences as well as differences in degree or urbanity or other cultural differences. This moral standard is what measures the degree of variance when a particular problem is noticed in a particular society.
Also the subject of morality and advocacy for socio-economic and political equality of women has been treated with enthusiastic adoration since medieval period. A number of critics have expressed their opinions on social realism in the novels of Ifeoma Okoye. One of them places more emphasis on the role of the writer as a chronicler and visioner. According to this critic:
The writer should be more concerned with contemporary socio-political issues and problems which are pressing and require immediate attention. Preventing the present day societies from collapsing is more important than digging up Africa’s past glories. (Julie Agbasiere:72)
Ifeoma Okoye like other African writers has contributed to presenting the realities of their society. For instance, Cyprian Ekwensi has generally been referred to as a “novelist of the city” because most of his novels are concerned with problems, which brings about social changes in the society. Okoye has also called for changes at the personal, family and communal levels in her two prominent novels, showing the reality of a corrupt society and the brutal treatment to which women are subjected.
In another dimension, Marie A. Umeh comments that Behind the Clouds (1982) deals with the theme of childlessness that is presented in a unique manner. She further observes that the author’s intentions are to make African women aware of their “second class” status through Igbo patriarchy and to break away from the retrogressive attitude that gives rise to unnecessary suffering in black women’s lives. Therefore, like her two female predecessors, Flora Nwapa and Buchi Emecheta, Ifeoma Okoye sets out to redeem the image of humiliated women in the African society.
She focuses on correcting the debased image of Nigerian women in order to present them as dignified and humane individuals who are capable of maintaining personal integrity and economic independence. In Behind the Cloud (1982) the protagonist, Ije represents the changing position of women in Nigerian society. For instance, the respect with which her husband, Dozie, accords her holding her in high esteem both in public and private matters is very uncommon in the Nigerian Culture.
However, Behind the Clouds (1982) deals with childlessness not from a feminist perspective, but from a womanly and progressive stand point leading readers to understand that patriarchy which puts the blames solely on the shoulders of the females is ignorant. Okoye shows for instance, how Ije’s husband makes mistake in concluding that their fruitless marriage is a female concern and as such, Ije alone is encouraged to seek medical attention. Women are indeed the scapegoats of tradition and that is why women are always blamed when couples are childless.
The idea of woman taking the whole blame of bareness is buttressed by the character of Ije’s childhood friend, Beatrice who is nearly worried to death because after eight years of marriage, she has not conceived and her husband’s parents, relations and friends keep telling him to get himself another wife to bear him a heir. Beatrice miraculously becomes pregnant by the assistance of a holy man called Pastor Joseph. As Beatrice thinks of the possibility of her marriage getting collapsed, she consoles herself thus: “If my marriage breaks down now, at least, I will have a child who will look after me in old age”. Here, Okoye shares the view that children are a great social insurance against any form of threat in old age.
CHAPTER THREE
Gender Ideology in Behind the Clouds
Behind the clouds (1982) is a novel that deals with the issue of childlessness. The degrading traditional practices have made women in matrimonial homes to have wrong perception about themselves as portrayed in the novel, when issues that relate to infertility are raised. Many women would have taken it upon themselves as their sole problem because the society we are, in Africa already allows a man to marry second wife while reverse is the case for the women. Females do this always in order to save their marriage. They are disturbed and provoked on this issue and that is why Ije lost control over herself when she narrated her ordeal to Dr. Melie:
Tears welled into Ije’s eyes and she pressed her fingers against them. In spite of her resolution to be stoical about her misfortune, she could not help being wet-eyed whenever she wanted to talk about it. The tears refused to be kept in and she dabbed her eyes again and again with her handkerchief. Presently she said with tears in her voice: ‘I want a baby, doctor.’ (Okoye:6-7).
The plight of women on this issue made them to go extral miles to the detriment of the doctrine of their religion. Ije in the novel consulted herbalist when the burden was so much for her:
She remembered vividly all the doctors who had treated her – the tests, the minor operations, and the major one that had almost killed her. She remembered also the herbalists she had approached for help. (Okoye:1-2).
CHAPTER FOUR
Ideology and Social Crises In Men Without Ears (1984)
Men Without Ears (1984) is a novel that shows the crave for wealth and ostentatious living in the Nigerian society. The novel reflects the disorderliness that has taken over the entire country in the 1980s, in a way that bribe, corruption, moral decadence and desperation to get wealthy were the order of the day. The one Nigerians are experiencing now is advance form of social crises that is discussed in the novel.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
This work has attempted to analyse the thematic preoccupation of the two selected novels of Ifeoma Okoye’s Behind the Clouds (1982) and Men without Ears (1984). From the analysis of the novels, it is apparent that the author has used from the wealth of her experience to create social awareness for the plight of women and as well, to expose the social problems in our society. Okoye is transparently concerned with trauma which women in contemporary patriarchal society like Nigeria are facing. She is also committed to celebration of womanhood.
The chapter one gives the general introduction of the topic, the purpose, the scope and limitation, methodology and justification of the study. Chapter two is the literature review on the work of Ifeoma Okoye,s two novels ; Behind the Clouds (1982) and Men without Ears (1984). While chapter three analyses gender issues in Behind the Clouds (1982), chapter four discusses the social crises and gender issues in Men without Ears (1984).
Having studied the issues related to social crises and gender in Behind the Clouds (1982) and Men without Ears (1984), our findings have shown that there are connections of the ideas which have to do with exposition of some segments of social problems and gender imbalances in the two novels. Okoye has testified to the fact that there are infections in the social, political, family, religious institution in our society and thereby calls for restoration of morality in the society as a cure.
Also, she has made a point with regard to individuality of human beings within a social system. Every individual is a product of his or her society, therefore, their behaviours differ. For instance, the attitude of Dozie towards his wife, in Behind the Clouds (1982) contradicts that Uloko in Men without Ears (1984). Dozie attitude is humane as against that of Uloko. The author of the novels uses Dozie character as a role model example that people should emulate and asks people to desist from that of Uloko. In another dimension, the attitudes demonstrated by Chigo who refused to join the way of bad people and that of Kenwe who has taken it upon himself to use the knowledge is endowed with to correct the wrong doings in the society.
As enumerated in this essay, the female in Nigeria is highly discriminated against in all spheres of life. However, it is hoped that this contribution to gender issues, such as this, will inform negative policies, abnormal customary laws on the female conception. All findings made here are on the oppression of female and the social crises in Nigeria settings.
Gender-awareness training and gender analysis on the female on the male centric biases in law, constitution and society would help to make people’s mind open. This would in no small measure bring about gender balances that in turn could bring about remedy to social crises. Training for the religious and traditional leaders and scholars in Nigeria is thereby necessitated. Women organizations should further work towards female empowerment, education and liberation and extend this to remote areas.
The entire society of ours, especially the police institution and professionals need to be trained and re-oriented. There is in fact the need to scrutinize our present legal institutions in Nigeria. The mobilization of strategies in addition to this scrutinization would aid the effective participation of the female in the on-going civil rule programmes.
The male should also develop positive inclination towards women and help to erase gender inequality in the socio-cultural, economic and political terrain of the country. The women can also begin to see their male counterparts as equals and not as superior beings. And the media can also be a powerful medium of use to educate people on the need to shun social vices in the society and as well, to ensure changes in female status quo. New awareness and re-orientation would help to promote better moral behaviour among youths and also to erase female discrimination in Nigeria.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PRIMARY SOURCES
- Ifeoma Okoye, Behind the Clouds, Lagos; Longman Nigeria plc, 1982
- Ifeoma Okoye, Men without Ears. England; Longman group Ltd, 1984
SECONDARY SOURCES
- Adebayo, A. ‘Tearing the Veil of Invisibility: The Roles of West African Female Writers in Contemporary Times”. 1996.
- Adimora-Ezaigbo, A. Gender Issues in Nigeria: Feminist Perspective. Lagos: Vista Books, 1996. Adegbite, W. ‘Language, Gender and Politics: A General Perspectives’. In A. Odebunmi, E.A. Arua and S. Arimi (eds.). Language, Gender and Politics: A festschrift for Yisa Kehinde Yusuf. Lagos: Concept Publications, 2009.
- Adimora-Ezaigbo, A. The last of the strong one. Lagos: Vista Books, 1996.
- Agbasiere, J. “African Literature and Social Commitment. In Major Themes in African Literature. Nsukka: AP Express. 2000.
- Akande, A.A. et al. ‘Infertility in Human Male: A Review’ In Yetunde Ijaiya and V.A. Alabi et al. (eds.). Gender Discourse: A Journal of the University of Ilorin Women Academics. Ilorin: Cover Concept. Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004.
- Asein Samuel and Olu Ashaolu. Studies in the African Novel. Ibadan: University Press, 1986.
