Literature as a tool to demystify societal norms and values in the contemporary African society: A critique of the African patriarchal system in Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

Abstract

The novel, ‘‘Second Class Citizen’’ by Buchi Emecheta brings to lime light the ills in the African patriarchal
leadership using the custom and culture of Ibuzo community in Eastern Nigeria to expose the discrimination,
dehumanization and segregation placed on females (girl-children and women) in the African society. The
novel is anchored on Wollstonecraft (1792) theory of feminism titled, ’’A vindication of the rights of women’’
which states that women are not naturally inferior to men and should be given opportunity to get educated
like men so as to serve the society equally. The theorist frowns at the convictions that, women are forced
to focus solely on trivial accomplishments that would make them a better wife and mother to the small unit
of the family rather than anything important in the society. The theorist also frowns at an educational system
that deliberately trains women to be frivolous and incapable of making impact in the society. Thus, the
theorist admonishes those women and men alike are depicted as rational beings that can be excellent
workers in politics and other professions. The novelist is thematically pre-occupied with men’s
unfaithfulness in marriage, societal limitation and subjugation on a female child, parental interference in
marital affairs, societal stratification, social constraints and custom, dehumanization and untimely death.
This paper therefore addresses the wrong notion men in African society have on girl child that she is less
important in the society. It further condemns African patriarchal system and advocates for women equality,
girl child education, women participation in politics and involvement in diverse areas of endeavors.