A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS FOR MALE CHARACTERS IN AFRICAN FEMINIST LITERATURE BY TWO MALE AND TWO FEMALE WRITERS

Esther Wanjiku Kiritu, Dr. Margaret Njoki Mwihia, Dr. Peter Muhoro Mwangi

Abstract


The area of literature and cultural studies has continued to address gender inequality and feminist arguments. While similar studies have been done, it seems the identities of male characters have frequently been disregarded in favor of the portrayal of female characters, particularly in feminist literature. In this study, the researcher examined how male and female authors have presented societal expectations of male characters. The study was limited to four African feminist texts, two by male authors and two by female authors, in order to carry out a critical analysis of how the authors have voiced out the issue of male identity in their texts. Textual analysis was applied in analyzing the thematic concerns related to the study objectives. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the four texts; Margaret A. Ogola’s The River and the Source, Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood, Nuruddin Farah’s From a Crooked Rib and Imaginings of Sand by André Brink. From the research findings, it is evident that while the male characters remain constant, the female characters have continued to be presented with progressive characteristics. Additionally, the feminist authors have been influenced by the social ideologies, which permit male dominancy over the female characters. The study suggested recommendations to; the Ministry of Education to evaluate novels which concern themselves with female characters and tend to overlook the male characters.  Secondly, the society should curb stereotypical views which promote gender inequality. Finally, feminist authors should address the issue of gender as a concern to both men and women in today’s society.

Keywords: Societal Expectations, Male Characters, African Feminist Literature


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