WEEK 2 : Women in Things Fall Apart (Part 2)

Questions:

Based on your reading (gender differences), reflect on how these women are treated in the novel. the following questions can help you as you write your reflective piece: 

• How are the women treated in the novel? Do all members in the community agree with the status quo? Why? 
• What contributions are made by the Igbo women to the survival of their culture?
• What are the changes of women's role in the present world?

Answer (Rosman Drahman) : 

One of the main issues in Things Fall Apart is gender issue. In this novel, women are having powerless compare to the men in the society. As an evidence, “And when (Ojiugo) returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace…It was unheard of to beat somebody during the sacred week”. From this text, we can see that Okonkwo having more power than his wife. Okonkwo severely beats his wife just because a small problem. Besides, women in this novel also denied their social status. This is demonstrated is the way feminine concepts and words are used to refer to weak things. Achebe writes about Okonkwo speaking to a man who contradicted him: “Without looking at the man Okonkwo had said: “This meeting is for men.” The man who had contradicted him had no titles. That is why he called him a woman”. From this text, we had known that women in this novel have nothing in social power. They cannot do beyond what they are told to do.

However, not all women in this novel were treated badly. One of the examples is a woman who related with the Ibo religion. The women routinely perform the role of priestess. Achibe had recalls that during Okonkwo's boyhood, "the priestess in those days was woman called Chika. She was full of the power of her god, and she was greatly feared". Chielo is the present priestess and she is the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the hill and the Cave. There is an episode during which Chielo has come for Okonkwo and Ekwefi's daughter Ezinma. In this scene, we can see that Okonkwo can’t not do anything instead he obeys what the priestess say to him. We witness a woman not only ordering Okonkwo to give her his daughter, but threatening him as well.  

      Things that had been changes in women’s roles in this present world are women also work like a men. In Things Fall Apart, women cannot work but women should work at home only. Besides, present day, women are getting more power than men. We can see in business sector. Mostly, we can see a company’s boss is a women.

References 

Okonkwo, Churchill (2007). “Inferiorization of Igbo Women and its Consequences.

               Retrieve from

               < http://bookstove.com/drama/women-in-things-fall-apart/#ixzz2N9pwM900>

Answer (Hasfiyah Assan) : 

1.   1.  How are the women treated in the novel? Do all members in the community agree with the status quo? Why?

            All over the world, especially in developing countries, women are not treated as equals. It is not any different in the Nigerian society portrayed by Chinua Achebe in his book Things Fall Apart. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe represents the female characters as they existed in Ibo culture, which is without power but often emotionally strong. He shows how the patriarchal structure has been entrenched in Ibo culture and only represents how it exists, so that people must evaluate the culture for themselves.  Chinua Achebe shows women as having little to no power in society in his book, Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo severely beats his wife for a small problem, not being home during dinner. However, the only reason he gets in trouble is because it is the week of peace. In fact, it is often encouraged that men beat their women for punishment of “wrongdoings”, and the women have no recourse against it.

            Women are not only without protection, but also denied social status. They cannot meaningfully participate in social affairs. This is demonstrated is the way feminine concepts and words are used to refer to weak things. Although the women’s lack of power is very clear when looking at society, it is very obvious in the language employed by the Ibo in Things Fall Apart that women do not have any social power. They cannot do beyond what they are told. This is consistent with real Ibo culture, where social repression of women is happening still today, even though women have gained some power. This means that his representation is accurate and therefore fair.

            Despite their lack of a social status, Things Fall Apart depicts women as having worth and being emotionally strong. Although they aren’t seen and respected as equals to men they are often emotionally strong, and are revered for some reasons. After Okonkwo’s exile, Uchendu speaks to Okonkwo on women and their role.

2.   2.  What contributions are made by the Igbo women to the survival of their culture?

            Discerning the role of women in Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart requires an attentive and unbiased reading of the novel. At first glance, the women in Things Fall Apart may seem to be an oppressed group with little power, and this characterization is true to some extent. However, this characterization of Ibo women reveals itself to be prematurely simplistic as well as limiting, once the reader uncovers the diverse roles of the Ibo women throughout the novel.

            An excellent example of powerful women in the Ibo village is found in the role they play in the Ibo religion. The women routinely perform the role of priestess. There is an episode during which Chielo has come for Okonkwo and Ekwefi's daughter Ezinma. There is no other point in the novel in which we see Okonkwo "plead" with anyone, male or female, for any reason. We witness a woman not only ordering Okonkwo to give her his daughter, but threatening him as well. The fact that Okonkwo allows this is evidence of the priestess's power. The ability of a woman to occupy the role of a priestess, a spiritual leader, reveals a clear degree of reverence for women being present in Ibo society.

3.    3. What are the changes in women’s roles in this present world?

            As the times have changed, along with that standard of living has undergone drastic transformation. Needs of human beings have multiplied and in this process earning substantial income for maintaining a decent life has become the highest priority. With the changed circumstances the role of women has become so important in the society. For matching today’s standard of living and leading a dignified life, it became imminent for both men and women to collectively earn income for the family. 

            Gone are the days when women use to sit at home, managing home and looking after the children. Today women have been given bigger role to play in the society. They are entrusted with more responsibility than their male counterparts. Women have to venture out and work along with men in supplementing income for the family. Initially men objected to women pursuing their career outside home, but with the growing needs and scarcity of money, he had no other way out but to accept the reality and adjust with the changed circumstances.

            Contribution of women in generating income for their families increased drastically. Women started earning income almost at par with their male counterparts. But home was still managed exclusively by women as in the past, without any change. Men did not provide enough support to their female counterparts in managing home and children. It became a challenging task for women to manage both spheres of life, home front and their careers outside home. Women after working hard at their jobs had no respite after coming back from their office.  They cannot afford to sit down and relax for some time, as they have to take care of the needs of their children, manage home and prepare food for their family. It became very hectic for women, as the burden on them increased disproportionately.  Women are bearing the brunt and suffering mental hardship in managing home and pursuing their careers. Further women are also suffering emotionally, as they have to leave their small children at home and stay outside for long hours in pursuing their careers.