THE NIGERIAN WOMAN AND FEMINISM: A STUDY OF TWO SELECTED PLAYS

Abstract

The subjugation of women by men as being subservient, docile and second fiddle has led to the emergence of feminism as a tool with which women all over the world have been using to fight patriarchy, in order to gain their freedom.  Although feminism originated from the Western world, it has spread globally and evolved into different variants.  In Africa for example, we have Womanism, STIWANISM, Motherism among others.  However, whatever variant, feminism aims to liberate women from the clutches of marginalization and oppression by men, and seek equal and inclusive participation in societal issues to enable them contribute their own quota towards the development of their society.  This paper appraises the travails and marginalization of the African woman in the throes of patriarchy and her struggle for emancipation using Tess Onwueme’s The Reign of Wazobia and The Broken Calabash.  It also brings to the fore the desire of the Nigerian woman to be treated with deference and equity by the masculine gender.  The paper also reveals the position of the Nigerian woman as one who merely wants to be ‘shifted for’ and accommodated in a society in which she regards herself as an important participant.  Some suggestions were, proffered which includes that patriarchy’s entrenched laws and norms should be, eradicated from the society; and women should be included in leadership positions in order to have a say in policies and decisions that affect them.