Department of English

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Browsing Department of English by Author "Broekman, Shirley Jeanne"

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    Writing about female oppression : the social and political significance of Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous conditions
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1999) Broekman, Shirley Jeanne; Nuttall, S. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of English.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis demonstrates that an African woman writer often faces a number of challenges due to her social and economic situation in many countries, and this has led to writers like Dangaremgba adopting unusual literary strategies in an attempt to be heard in the literary arena, as well as in their communities. Most African women are subjects of patriarchal systems and previously were subjects of oppressive colonial systems, which meant that they were faced with sexual discrimination in virtually every aspect of life. For example, African women writers have had to challenge male dominance in the literary arena, and rework sexist and stereotypical representations of African women in literature. They have also had to struggle to have their novels published and receive serious critical attention, as their works have frequently been appropriated and misrepresented by a great deal of Western feminist literary analysis, which tends to construct artificial categories of analysis and ultimately discriminates between "us" and "them" in an imperialistic and often racist manner. In response to this social and literary context, Dangarembga has developed a number of literary strategies which enable her to deliver social and political commentary and challenge the status quo. For instance, she uses the technique of "writing beyond the ending" to critique her main character, Tambu, by narrating the story from the point of view of an experienced self which develops outside the scope of the novel. Because of this technique she is able to draw attention to the inconsistencies, dangers and ironies inherent in the position of many of her characters. She has also created a novel which appears to conform to the convention of a "Bildungsroman", but then reverses this familiar pattern by demonstrating that the individual is at the mercy of the colonial system without the support and sense of heritage that involvement with their community provides. The novel ultimately demonstrates that it is because of her involvement with the community that Tambu achieves consciousness and emancipation, as opposed to through her individual endeavours. Finally, Dangarembga challenges simplistic and reductive representations of women in Western feminist and other texts, by vividly portraying the multiplicity and variety of her characters' responses to an oppressive situation, as well as the unique and multifaceted nature of their situation. She strongly rejects the idea that African women are ultimate victims of oppressive social systems, by demonstrating - that there are a number of choices and options available to women and that they are able to influence their situation, even though the circumstances they live in are extremely complex and stressful. This thesis concludes by pointing out the social importance of this kind of text, as it illustrates an alternate mode of behaviour for oppressed women and thus may ultimately contribute towards social and political change. At the same time, writing of this sort provides a vital outlet for many African women writers who experience oppression and silencing as members of patriarchal societies, as well as a way in which to analyse and reinterpret their experiences of oppression in a more constructive manner.