A Stiwanist Perspective of Patriarchal Limitations in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions

Abstract

Gender inequality exists in a situation where women are exposed to few opportunities, suppression of personal growth, limited personal choices and men’s domination. Gender inequality has been a social problem in African societies partly due to the continent’s encounter with colonialism. From a young age, Adichie (2014) explains that socialisation exaggerates the differences which biologically exist between boys and girls. For example, housework such as cooking and cleaning is mostly done by girls and women.  Girls are socialised to be housekeepers and bear children, which places little or no value on the success of female education. The current study adopts a Thematic Textual analysis technique of Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions (1988) which explores education as a tool which patriarchy employs, as well as the contribution of culture in shaping gender (in)equality in African societies. This novel was selected through Purposive sampling due to its portrayal of the limitations which arise from patriarchy and is buttressed by Ogundipe-Leslie’s Stiwanism.