A Sexist Lifestyle
Since the beginning of time, women have been taught to clean the house and care for children while men have been taught to stay out of the home and do the “manly” chores. One can argue either way whether this is sexist or not. Some may think that it is because women are not seen as capable of performing “manly” duties. Others may argue that it is not sexist because men and women both have their own duties, and different genders have different gender roles. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe depicts the Igbo culture in Africa. In the Igbo society polygamy exists, where men are able to have multiple wives and women cannot. Not only are women bound to one man while men have many wives, but also women do not have any power in the society. This, coupled with the fact that the culture despises women, presents Things Fall Apart as a sexist novel.
Things Fall Apart is a sexist novel because of the polygamy. Men are allowed to have multiple wives while …show more content…
“‘Do what you are told, woman,’ Okonkwo thundered, and stammered. ‘When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?’” (Achebe 14). The word ndichie means elder. Okonkwo implies that women are not fit to be high in society by mocking one of his wives when she questions him. In the Igbo culture, women are also not “capable” of taking care of themselves because they belong to their husbands, along with the children. A bride is bought for a bride price, and belong to their husband’s family once married. “Since Igbo marriage ties were usually exogamous, a woman also belonged to another group in her husband’s village consisting of the wives of the clan” (Cobham 165-180). This points out that women belong to their husbands, verifying men have power over women. Similarly, women are not allowed to make important decisions like men. In Okonkwo’s mind, women are only useful for small chores and bearing
Since the beginning of time, women have been taught to clean the house and care for children while men have been taught to stay out of the home and do the “manly” chores. One can argue either way whether this is sexist or not. Some may think that it is because women are not seen as capable of performing “manly” duties. Others may argue that it is not sexist because men and women both have their own duties, and different genders have different gender roles. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe depicts the Igbo culture in Africa. In the Igbo society polygamy exists, where men are able to have multiple wives and women cannot. Not only are women bound to one man while men have many wives, but also women do not have any power in the society. This, coupled with the fact that the culture despises women, presents Things Fall Apart as a sexist novel.
Things Fall Apart is a sexist novel because of the polygamy. Men are allowed to have multiple wives while …show more content…
“‘Do what you are told, woman,’ Okonkwo thundered, and stammered. ‘When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?’” (Achebe 14). The word ndichie means elder. Okonkwo implies that women are not fit to be high in society by mocking one of his wives when she questions him. In the Igbo culture, women are also not “capable” of taking care of themselves because they belong to their husbands, along with the children. A bride is bought for a bride price, and belong to their husband’s family once married. “Since Igbo marriage ties were usually exogamous, a woman also belonged to another group in her husband’s village consisting of the wives of the clan” (Cobham 165-180). This points out that women belong to their husbands, verifying men have power over women. Similarly, women are not allowed to make important decisions like men. In Okonkwo’s mind, women are only useful for small chores and bearing