Women in Nation Building, a Feminist Study of Naomi Alderman the Power and the Descendants Jainab Alkali
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- Examine the situation(s) which have caused women to try to redefine their image.
- Identify the means by which women (and other stakeholders) have being exploring in an effort to re-define their image.
- Identify the impact (positive or negative) which the redefinition of the image of women has had or would have on the women themselves and on the large Nigerian nations.
These three factors constitute the relevance of this study that would ultimately culminate into its significance. Despite these three (3) objectives however, the study may highlight other factors that may emerge as the examination of the situation progresses.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, references have been made to and quotations taken from contemporary works of other authors which are of the same thematic disposition as this research project. The chapter is on discourse on womanhood; a treatise on the femine gender as an intrinsic population of Almighty Allah’s glorious creation. The second section of this chapter discusses Nigerian women in the traditional role and image, which society assigned to them. The third part of this chapter is given to critical analysis Zaynab Alhali’s novel, The Descendants, which is the main source of data for this research project.
DISCOURSE ON WOMANHOOD
Every society of the world is populated by people who are differentiated by their natural endowment which in this case is the gender disposition which makes a person either a man or a woman. This gender difference has been a source of discussion, debate, confrontation, agreement and disagreements. Men have over the years, wittingly are unwillingly, made womanhood to be a contentious issue; this is so much so that even women themselves have tended lose sight of their identity collectively and individually.
Women have been referred to as the weaker sex who need to be protected by the men folk whose machismo disposition make them suppose they are stronger than women. However, it is now a point of fact that women are now coming into their own and are able to compete favourably with the men folk.
Womanhood is no longer seen to be a disadvantage. This is because women have proved to men that they are creatures of wit and intelligence; women have successfully ventured into fields of endeavour which have hither to been considered to be the exclusive preserver of men. Women have made their marks in such fields as engineering, avionics, teaching, medicine, literature and even the armed forces.
It is true that there are certain societies in which women are considered to be domestic chattels (Kisseka, 2001) but it is also true that even in such settings, women are respected as the pivot which the household spins. (Nething, 1996).
CHAPTER THREE
THE RE-DEFINED IMAGE OF NIGERIAN WOMEN
Indeed, the image of the Nigerian women has been uttered in a liberating way; in a way that grants women to engage in healthy competition with the men folk. Today the Nigerian woman is not as easily intimidated as she was in the past.
The re-defined image of the Nigerian woman is mostly attributed to the advent of information and communication technology (ICT) into the Nigerian society. However, before the full-fledged incursion of ICT into Nigeria, there had been a clarion call for girl-child education since education is seen as the first irrepressible and irrevocable step towards self-realization and self-reliance through the development of an individual’s potentialities (Rufai, 2013).
When a percentage of Nigerian girls were given opportunities to attend school to as far as tertiary institutions, their image became redefined even as they grew into womanhood. The acquisition of modern education by and employment of women in the formal sector have instilled self-confidence in them and have also necessitated general respect for the folk by the hitherto cynical men folk. (Uche 2014)
Today, the woman is not just an ‘instrument for child-bearing or a tool for house-keeping. The acquisition of education by and employment of women have caused radical changes in the mode of family life and organization. Now, the emphasis is no longer on women remaining at home to care for the children; husbands now allow for the fact that wives are also partners who go out to work and earn money which she contributes to the up-keep of the house (Maina, 2014)
In a similar situation, the re-defined image of the Nigerian woman is attributed to the acquisition of the trend of mobility by Nigeria. Mobility (upward or downward movement of people in a system of social stratification) involves the ability of a society to create structural opportunities for education and employment for all people regardless of gender, economic or social status, religion or political affiliations. (UNDP, 2014)
Owing to psychic mobility, successive Nigerian governments have accepted the need to implement policies that would create enabling environment for the liberation and empowerment of women. It is in the light of this that the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has granted 35% of public offices to women; more women are also contesting public offices in the national and state assemblies, governorship races, board leadership and ministerial appointments (NBS, 2010)
However, it is not only in politics that the image of the Nigerian women has been re-defined. Even at the domestic home front women have more freedom. Modern education by and employment of women have resulted in the birth of a few number of children that can be managed adequately by the mother who can now afford to buy all the necessary items which babies need for healthy growth and intellectual development.
Indeed, the image of the Nigerian woman has been red-defined positively. However, there are still some negative features that are associated with this image re-definition some aspects of the re-definition of the image of Nigerian women has caused an adverse shortening of the period of breast-feeding of babies. This is not good for the physical growth and intellectual growth of the baby because the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that all infants should be breast feed with their mother’s milk for a period of less than six months (WHO 2014).
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY
It has been an age-old tradition that men are superior to women in every aspect of life-intellectually, physically, emotionally and even spiritually. This tradition belief may be right or more supposition, no one can say certain. However, the mere fact that a woman was created from the rib of man makes the belief to have divine roots.
It is the right of this that right from pre-historic times, women have been subjected in all spheres of human endeavor as men have arrogated themselves the right to rule over women. However, therefore, are made subservient to men which means that women are pliable to the whims and caprices of men. It has become the belief of men, willy-nilly, that women are created for the sole pleasures of the men folk. This belief has robbed women of their individual identity; women are seen only is the way that men cast them.
Traditionally, men have cast women in the role of domestic beings; a woman’s only attribute is procreation and housekeeping. Men ‘acquire’ women only because they need some ways to satisfy their physical pleasure, have children who would perpetuate their names and someone to cook their meals and generally make their homes comfortably to live in.
In some communities, women cannot inherit the properties of their deceased husbands. Infact, in such communities women are inherited as a son inherits his late father’s youngest wife while a brother inherits his deceased brother’s wife. It is unfortunate that women themselves by their timid and passive nature, tend to reinforce the myth of male superiority and dominance over them. Indeed the lots of women in the society have been very gloomy.
Thanks to modern civilization however that this ignoble trend is now being reversed. Women have now woken up to the realization that were created not as men’s chatted but rather as men’s partners; the feminine gender is now conscious of its existence as Allah’s creation to be men’s alter ego but not part of their creation comforts.
At the turn of the 20th century, there grew the consciousness among women and even some men that women should be recognized as women as human beings who possess the same quality as men folk do so their rights should be accorded to them even if not as equals of men but as human beings. This awakening of the female consciousness gave birth to some movements as feminism, womanism, mothernism and others which all seek to liberate women from the yoke of men domination.
In the early days of feminist movements, this arose in America and Europe, all that the women wanted were to be recognized in their own rights as human and to be treated accordingly. However, with growing awareness, proponents of feminine belief began to agitate for the same rights and opportunities as men: equality.
Women literary writers like Virginia Woolfe (USA) and Simone De Beauvior (France) used their novels as vehicles for conveying the desires of women. At the tail end of the 20th century, other parts began to follow the in the direction of the feminist movers in America and Europe. The African continent particularly; Nigeria was not left behind.
Flora Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta, Zaynab Alkali and other female writers use their books to join in the clamor for the emancipation of women; some men joined in this effort. Thus, it is observed, the situation has changed for the better as the role of women all over the world has become redefined.
Today, women are no longer passive members of the society; they have risen above the image of docility and meekness in which they are hitherto known. It is true that for all practical purposes, the woman is still a house wife who bears children, cook and keep the house but it is equally true that the house wife also contributes financially to the family up keep; indeed, in some homes, the woman is the sole or major bread winner.
In these times, men do not look at women with disdain for women are now engaged in endeavors which were hitherto considered to be the sole prerogative of men. Today there are women engineers, women medical doctors, women professors, women journalists, women authors, women pilots, women police, women solders, women politicians, senators, women governors, representatives; name any human endeavor and you will find women there.
Women have led some of the great countries of the world like India, Britain, Brazil, Pakistan, Germany (presently). In Nigeria there has been Sarah Jibril who was in the race for the country’s presidency. Yes, women have come a long way in redefining their role. Women have forced men by sheer perseverance and success, to sit up and accord their proper place in the society.
Women are now being evaluated on the basis of their usefulness to the society rather than on their domestic dispositions. In the present times, there is lack of emphasis on ascribed status such as age, gender or any criterion of birth as legitimate bases for participation in public activities such as education, employment or occupancy of position of power and responsibility.
It may not be said that women are now have full equal opportunities as men because religion and culture have placed certain restrictions on the roles which women can play; nut it certainly be said that the role of women in Nigeria has been very well redefined. In urban areas, women have regained their voices through education and they are now recognized within their rights as capable human beings.
CONCLUSION
The situation which this research project has investigated is how the image and role of Nigerian women are being redefined; how the women are shedding the image of docility and meekness which traditions (and religion) have thrust upon them.
In the course of the research, the data collected and analyzed brought home some universal truth. One of these is that the Nigerian women had over the years been suppressed, marginalized, sanctioned and relegated into an ignoble situation in the society; that the Nigerian women had land still may be suffering, suffered many forms of degradation and deprivation at the hands of the men folk.
Another conclusion reached is that the Nigerian women particularly the educated ones are now consciously aware of the predicament which male chauvinism has thrown them into; women have now realized that if they do not stand up and fight for their rights, no one would fight for them and they would perpetually be under the men dominance.
The awareness of their misbegotten situation in the society has caused the women to sit up and call attention to them; women have made great strides in the campaign for equality with men. Women have formed many feminist and joined non-feminist movements that would aid them in their call for equal rights and opportunities as the men have.
One further conclusion reached by this study is that women are succeeding in gaining some measures of freedom to engage in certain fields of human endeavor which were hitherto forbidden to them. Even in northern Nigeria where women have negligible access to western education, they still persevere to better their lot in spite of all odds stacked against them. It have been found that women engage in politics and even hold political offices in the executive arm of government, the legislature; in the academic field there are women professors and senior lecturers; there are women medical doctors and consultants; there are women in engineering, architecture and survey which used to be considered as sole prerogatives of men.
Generally, women are rising to meet the challenges of life; they have thus far shed the traditional image of being docile, meek, weak, timid and shy. Women are now proving to men that it is not physical strength that matters but that stern resolves can achieve significant results.
The good thing is that men have sat up and taken notice; even in northern Nigeria where women are denied education and employment, the situation is fast changing for the better. Yes! The image and role of women in Nigeria have been redefined.
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