Patriarchy in Dangarembga and Medie's selected novels : a post-colonial exploration

Abstract

Patriarchy remains a rooted system that shapes the lives of women in post-colonial Africa, preserving gender inequalities and constraining women‘s independence. For this reason, this study was prompted by a need to investigate how contemporary African literature reflects and critiques the impact of patriarchal structures facilitated by indigenous and colonial ideologies on women‘s lives. In particular, it sought to show how the intersectional identities of African women facilitate economic marginalisation, objectification and gender roles‘ socialisation, to name a few. Through a thematic analysis of Tsitsi Dangarembga‘s This Mournable Body (2018) and Peace Adzo Medie‘s His Only Wife (2020), this study primarily examined the depictions of female experiences under the influence of patriarchal norms, both in public and private spheres by uncovering the ongoing struggles of females striving for agency and equality in the face of patriarchal structures. The study employed African Womanism and Intersectionality as theoretical frameworks to understand the layered aspects that contribute to the identified marginalisation of Black women. The findings of this study highlighted that in addition to indigenous and contemporary African philosophies of gender, colonial history continues to aggravate the shaping of gender dynamics in contemporary African societies, perpetuating inequality based on both gender and race. Fundamentally, this study revealed that Black women in post-colonial Africa face multiple layers of oppression, such as patriarchal dominance, economic marginalisation, cultural and social expectations, and educational and professional barriers. The general implication of these findings is that Black women should continue to strive for survival by building solidarity, which influences their opportunities for advancement and self-fulfilment.