Questões pós-coloniais, feminismo e o papel da mulher em as alegrias da maternidade de Buchi Emecheta

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the novel The Joys of Motherhood by Nigerian writer Buchi Emecheta, involving issues of gender, class and race and the consequences of the oppression of the native and colonial patriarchal system, and also resulting from this period, poverty, the situation of women and an awakening of feminist thought. To this end, we explore some African feminist theories, the role of women in Igbo culture and how the colonial system imprints changes in local customs, forcing an adaptation that ended up overwhelming women. The methodology applied is the qualitative approach, through bibliographical research. As a theoretical basis, for the discussion of colonialism and post-colonialism, we use the reflections of Ashcroft et al. (2002), Fanon (2008), Bhabha (1998) and Goodman (2004); on African feminisms, we seek support above all in Arndt (2002) and Mathew (2010); regarding the igbo culture and the role of women in this society, we use the studies of Amadiume (1987), Gjerde (2007), among others. We conclude that black Nigerian women suffer triple oppression of race, class and gender; we also study the role of women in Igbo society and how it has changed as a result of the colonial and post-colonial period; due to cultural, political, religious and geographic diversity, it has not yet been possible to reach a common denominator among African feminist currents, just as we cannot categorically frame Buchi Emecheta and her works in any of these.