Feminism Essay

YAGBA hILARY BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY , NIGERIA

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PROPOSAL : THE IMPACT OF FEMINISM

( THE NIGERIAN EXPIIRIENCE)

ABSTRACT

THE PUPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL/RESEARCH WORK IS TO FIND OUT THE IMPACT OF FEMINIST WRITERS USING FOR OUR STUDY FEMINISM IS A THEORY THAT FOR LONG HAS INFLUENCED OF MOST DISCUSSIONS BOTH IN THE EDUCATTIONAL AND SOCIAL CIRCLES OF LIFE .WE SHALL IN THIS WORK SEE HOW THAE THOEORY OF FEMINISM HAS IMPACTED ON THE LIVES OF ALL MOST ESPECIALLY THE WOMAEN FOLKS WHO HAVE TRIED TO ALWAYS ESTABLISH AN EQUAL RIGHT WHICH ENCOMPASES BOTH SOCIAL POLITICAL ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL LIFE AMONGST THEIR MALE FOLKS

BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE RAE LIMITING OUR DISCOURRSE TO THE LITERARY AND EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE MANY NIGERIANS WHO HAVE IN THEIR OWN WAY TRY TO INFLUENC EAND GIVE CREDIBILITY TO THIS THEOMRY AND WHY TH ETHEORY MUST STAND AMONG ALL SUPPRESSION

PREAMBLE

Feminism refers to movement aimed at establishing and defending equal political, economic and social rights and equal opportunities for women. In Nigeria, for a long period of time, the female folks have been looked upon as a set of unintelligent, lacking intellectual strength and not being able to have any impact in the affairs of the community where men are gathered

A feminist is a person practicing feminism. This can be a person of either sexes , but it has been agreed have delved more into this are , as irt mostly concern them and their affairs. Even though men too have made notable contribution, the passion shown by this men are not as strong as those of their female ccounterparts, as most of the Men write ''for the sake of writing''.feminist theories emerged from feminist movement which include to seek the origin of inequality and in some cases a social construction of sex and gender in a variety of disciplines. Feminists or feminism have campaigned for women's right such as in contract, property and voting, while at the same time promotes womens right to bodily integrity and autonomy which include reproductive rights . Feminism have seek to oppose domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault. Inm some quarters of life, they have also advocated for work place right, which include equal pay opportunities for careers and to statrt businesses

This theory and its writing began to appear in the 15th century from women protest movements such as the writings of Chritine De Pizan and those of Mary Wollstone Carfts. In the 18th century .Then from the 19th century, feminism tended to arise in what we now refer to as ''waves'', making much impact as stories and articles represented its thoughts especially the United States and United Kingdom. Here the first phase equality in property rights changes in the marriage relationship and eventually in ;women's suffrage and right to vote. The second phase also called '' the time of women liberation''. began in the 1960s and focused on discrimination and uncultured social and political issues and most books were written at this time such as : The Feminine Mystique and the Second Sex. The third phase which began in the 1980 addressed feminism across class and race lines as being grounded in culture , rather than Biology and also through many other issues. So less concentration was place don an issue.

Many ideologies were developed by now, which include the Liberal feminism, which seeks individual equality of Men and Women through Political and legal reform without altering the structure of the society .

Socialists/ social feminism which connects operation of female to exploitation , oppression and labour. Others such as Eco-feminism which seeks Men's control of Land as responsible for the oppression of women and the destruction of natural environment. Separatist feminism which does not support heterosexual relationships, and encourage lesbianism e.t.c

SCOPE

This proposal will discuss and focus mainly in details how Nigerian writers have moved up to the fact of pulling a challenge to anti-feminism and take a thorough detailed analysis of ''patriarchy''. We would be countering the theory of ''patriarchy'' and also see how effectively Nigerian Writers have written and demonstrated their 'more than words can explain' ability, countering and having their own mindset to take decisions in the absence of their male counterparts using both fictional and non-fictional characters and events respectively.

Definition of terms:

1. Feminism : Is a doctrine that advocates equal rights for Women. It is a movement aimed at establishing and defending equal political, economic and social rights and opportunities for women.

2. Patriarchy : Is a system in which the role of the male is central as the primary authority figure of any social standing and where the father holds authority over mothers and their children.

3. Nigeria : Is a republic in west Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; gained independence from the British in 1960 and notably most populous nation in Africa and unarguably most populous nation of Black inhabitants on Earth.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Concise evidence shows us the fact feminism has become a global phenomena , this does not exclude the Nigerian factor of writing about global issues too

OMOLARA OGUNDIPE LESLIE : is a Nigerian feminist and activist who is considered one of the foremost African writers on 'feminism', gender studies and literary theory. She is a social critic who has come to be recognised as a viable authority on African women among Black feminists and feminists in general. She rose to prominence early in her career in the midst of a male dominated society and artistic field, concerned about the problems affecting African men and women. Over the years, she has been a critic of oppression of women and has argued that African women are more oppressed in their status and roles as wives in view of their multiple identities.

She criticises the plight of African Women as due to the impact of imposed colonial and neo-colonial structures that often place males at the height of social stratification. Their plight she says '' is also due to the internalization of patriarchy by African women themselves