Gender Issues for Social Reformation in Contemporary African Women's Fiction

Rebecca Ufuoma DAVIES

Authors

Rebecca Ufuoma DAVIES

Keywords:

gender, contemporary women’s fiction, social reformation, African women

Abstract

Contemporary African women's fiction has been a significant site of exploration for issues of gender and its intersections with other identity markers such as race, class, and sexuality. This paper provides an overview of the gender issues present in contemporary African women's fiction and analyzes how these authors are engaging with feminist thoughts and theories in their works. The paper begins by exploring the patriarchal nature of African societies and how this has been challenged by African women writers through their portrayal of female characters who resist societal norms and expectations. The paper then analyzes the various forms of oppression that African women face, including sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and forced marriages. Additionally, the paper considers the role of African women in politics and how they are represented in literature. The paper argues that contemporary African women writers are challenging Western feminist thoughts and developing forms of feminist theory that are more inclusive and relevant to African contexts. The study concludes that African women's fiction is an important site of feminist discourse and offers valuable insights into the gender issues that affect African women today.

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