1.1 Introduction
Feminist is the non-physiological aspect of sex, a group of attributes and behaviors, shaped by the society and culture that are defined as appropriate for the male sex or female sex. This definition suggests that gender attributes (roles, identity, beliefs, etc) are highly influenced by two major factors – culture and society. Culture is often referred to as the way of life of a people. It defines beliefs, as it refers to everything that people create overtime. One’s culture plays a vital role in ascribing attributes to one’s gender (Binitie, 2009:17).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
African culture is not homogenous. It is as varied and diverse as the number of ethnic groups which make up the continent. Each ethnic group has a culture that is peculiar to it. Nevertheless, there are certain aspects that are generalized; especially when it comes to gender, marriage and family issues. All these have cultural backgrounds. A man never begins by presenting himself as an individual of a certain sex, but a woman has to define herself as a woman from start. The masculine is regarded as the very type of humanity and woman is seen as relative to man. This act is what gives birth to a term “Feminism”.
Feminism according to the Oxford Advanced Dictionary is “the movement for recognition of women’s rights (legal, political, social etc.) equal to possess by men”. Although, the term ‘Feminism’ has a history in English linked with womens activism form the late 19th century to the present, it is useful of distinguish feminist ideas or beliefs from feminist political movements for even in periods when they have been no significant in political activism around women’s subordination, individual has been concerned with and theorized about justice for women.
Feminism is an ideology which is a direct creation to the social and psychological restraints place upon women. Feminism come as a result of an attempt by the women to liberate their feet from traditional claws in African patriarchal society that allow the male see to exercise authority and emphasis male supremacy over the female. This is basically to bring impediments on the path of the women in realization of their potentials.
Joseph (2001:163) also aserts that “in order to be almost inextricaly successful in that chauvinist patriarchal society and authoritarian set-up the society conditions and manipulates the economic and psychological being of a woman”. Through history, women has always struggled against male domination and suppression, be it political, religious, economical or social.
The major reason for the women’s strive and thirst for quality with men can be traced to the changing role for women in contemporary West Africa is not to say that the traditional role of women as keeper of home, mother obedient, mate participation in actions, economics are being eliminated rather, it is to state a fairly obvious sociological fact. Society is not stagnant technologies and science just as the general societal changes have occurred in different part of the countries, so also is the changes in the role of women. The changes in the educational set up include changes in the educational set up include changes attitudes economics, political and society environmental of women which necessarily alter their roles.
Most African female writers seek to address the plight of women in most of their works. The advent of women into an exclusively male world was possible with an increasing sensitivity to inequalities of sexism. This issue forms the base of the African women writers. The women came to awareness that there is the heed to change the image of women from the oppressed and the underdog.
As a result of this fact, gender scholars and feminist writers have continuously lamented the sad plight of women, especially women who are not adequately empowered, in their works. Feminist writers in Europe and America like Virginia Woolf and Elaine Showalter have dwelt almost on the same concerns that dominated thematic pre-occupation of African Feminist writers like Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Ifeoma Okoye, Mariam Ba, Zulu Sofola, Zaynab Alkali and others. The main concern of most of these female is the problem confronting women. The female writer gives manly qualities to their female characters and makes the men to play a secondary role. This trend in female writers makes them feminist.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Feminist Aesthetic in Zaynab Alkali’s the Stillborn.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that Alkali in her writing characterized women characters facing these rapid changes productively and responsibly. Alkali has introduced the character of Awa (elder sister of Li) which continued to carry out her domestic responsibility as usual after being laid off by her school but Awa’s husband (Dan Fiama) failed to adapt to such changes, descended into alcoholism and let go of his responsibility to Awa. Men are portrayed as failing to face up to challenges and obstacles caused by transformation from traditional way of life to modernized Nigeria. From here we can clearly observe Alkali’s authorship technique that empowers women to take on multiple tasks and juxtapose it with Fiama’s position in failing to overcome his depression in losing his position as headmaster. Fiama didn’t help out Awa at home and yet still insistent of being the head of household with absolute power even though he is incapable to contribute to the family.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Feminist Aesthetic in Zaynab Alkali’s the Stillborn. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the tenets of gender discourse,
- To ascertain the significance of feminism in the society, and
- To examine theme of female oppression by men as well as the struggle by women for emancipation in Zaynab Alkali’s The Stillborn.
- To determine the primary concerns of the novel Zaynab Alkali’s The Stillborn.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the tenets of gender aesthetics?
- What is the significance of feminism in the society?
- What are the primary concerns of the novel Zaynab Alkali’s The Stillborn?
1.6 Justification of the Study
In Africa culture, women have been subjected to oppression, depression, suppression, rejection, and segregation and unfair and undue victimizations. This is duely because of the insignificant view that the analysis of Zaynab Alkali’s novels The Stillborn will be carried out to identify how she function in instructing the society thereby helping it to develop and also bring out the beauty of woman significance for the betterment of the society. In the process of data collected, the library would be consulted before embarking on this project. There is need to find out what has been written on the subject so as to guide the researcher on the general nature of the work and to add more view to improve or better the on-going project.
However, this study will attempt to pay a critical attention to the awareness created in the above books of Zaynab Alkali so as to bring out the aesthetics of feminism and their contributions to societal growth.
1.7 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Feminist Aesthetic in Zaynab Alkali’s the Stillborn. The novels to be studied are The Stillborn. Reference shall however be made to other relevant works which centre on gender discourse in the African sense of the word.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.9 Methodology
Data used in this work is derived primary from secondary sources. The methodology therefore, is basically documentary in nature. This involves learning new facts and principles through the study of documents and records. The documents and records include journals, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, official publications etc. By putting together logically evidence derived from documents and records. Conclusion which either established facts hitherto unknown or sound generalization can be obtained.
The analysis of Zaynab Alkali’s novels “The Stillborn” will be carried out to identify how they function in instructing the society thereby helping it to develop and also bring out the beauty of woman significant and betterment of the society. In the process of data collection, the library would be consulted before embarking on this project, there is need to find out what has been written on the subject so as to guide the researcher on the general nature of the work and to add more view to improve or better the on-going project.
1.10 Brief Background of Zaynab Alkali
Zaynab’s father is said to have come from Dam, a village in Borno State in the Northern part of Nigeria, but he moved to Gongola also in the northern region where Zaynab herself was born and brought up in the early 1960s. She attended Queen’s College and later went for further Degree in English before taking up the post of Principal of Shekaka Girl’s College, Kano in 1976, she was appointed as lecturer at Bayero University, Kano.
Zaynab Alkali’s belongs to the group of African Feminist writer that fervently decry the condition of women. Her published books are The Stillborn (1984), The Virtuous Woman (1986), The Descendent (2003) and other short stories collection Cowbells and other Stories (1997). Her pre-occupation is the plight of women in a society where the only means of survival, physical and emotional is to attain considerable level of education and economic independence.
As a feminist writer, Zaynab writes to deconstruct and at the same time to correct the evils of patriarchy in her society. In this society, women are regarded as mere subordinate to their men counterpart. They are subjugated and oppressed under the guise of male supremacy over female. The way out is what Zaynab Alkali’s trying to depict in her works.
