“In the traditional
Africa Society, women suffer the effects of gender discrimination.”
Using illustrations
from, The River and The Source, validate the statement.
The
Luo Society in the River and the source portray how women were treated in a
world dominated by men. Women heroes in the novel have to struggle since the
society treats them as lesser beings.
Male chauvinism is seen when Chief Odero
Gogni contemplates “another rock for his sling since Akoko cried with a lot of
gusto. Men do not recognize girls because they are passers-by unlike boys who
stand for family continuity. Chief Odero Gogni has to disguise his love for
Akoko because such love is unseemly.
The society has low attitude towards
girls. It does not consider important to seek for their opinion on their own
marriages. Chief Odero with his sons turns away many suitors before they settle
on chief Kembo. Details on marriage, bride price are settled in bride’s absence
.She is only called in when the most critical issues have been dispensed with.
She leaves soon after she has been introduced to her husband. Akoko chooses a
husband for Nyabera.
A man owns a woman’s “body and soul.”
Akoko is scandalized when threatens to leave her husband. Otieno is bitter that
his brother chief Kembo had never beaten his wife .Akoko describes relationship
between husbands and their wives like that of cats and dogs or like the one
between ravens and chicken. Akoko is grateful for her husband since he treated
her well. Otieno grabs Akoko’s wealth soon after her husband dies. He believes
that a woman does not deserve any wealth. Akoko felt the weight of injustice
that women had felt in a male dominated world.
It is a waste of time a girl to become
educated. Her sole objective of existence being married and bringing up of
children. Awiti ploughs her way through school despite difficulties
encountered. All other girls drop out of school. When Pilipo is converted to
Christianity, he thinks that catechism is too difficult for a woman to
understand. The society expects a female to hide her intelligence. On Awiti’s
graduation from primary school, the teacher refrains from mentioning that she
has been admitted into a teacher training college; people would ostracize her
for her brilliance or no man will take her for a wife.
Conclusion
The
women in the text are so good at what they do that they are able to overcome
the barrier s that society has placed in their way.
It has really helped me in revision for my exams
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