GENDER ROLES IN FRANK OGBECHE’S HARVEST OF CORRUPTION AND AKACHI ADIMORAEZEIGBO’S HANDS THAT CRUSH STONE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Gender roles have deep historical roots, emerging from ancient societies where labor was often divided by biological differences. Early human societies, particularly hunter-gatherer groups, began associating specific tasks with gender due to physical capabilities. Men typically hunted and protected, while women gathered food and cared for children. These roles became ingrained in social norms as societies evolved. As societies transitioned to agriculture, gender roles became more rigid. With the advent of settled communities, men’s work was more public, often tied to power and authority, while women’s roles became domestic, confined to the home and family. Ancient legal codes, religious texts, and philosophical writings further reinforced these roles, embedding them deeply in cultural practices. Early theories suggested that physical differences between men and women naturally determined their societal roles. Men’s physical strength was often cited as a reason for their dominance in labor-intensive and leadership roles.

In pre-colonial Africa, gender roles were often shaped by indigenous cultures and social systems. Unlike the rigid binary gender roles in many Western societies, traditional African communities often had more fluid and complementary roles for men and women. Roles were typically divided based on communal needs and contributions rather than strict gender hierarchies. In modern Nigeria, gender roles continue to be shaped by a mix of traditional values, religious beliefs, and global influences. The division of labor often sees men as the breadwinners and women as homemakers, although economic pressures and urbanization have increasingly blurred these distinctions. Many Nigerian women now participate in the workforce, balancing careers with their roles as caregivers.

However, deep-seated patriarchal norms still persist. In some regions, women face limitations in accessing education, property rights, and leadership positions. For example, cultural practices like early marriage and inheritance laws often disadvantage women. Despite legal advancements, such as Nigeria’s constitution guaranteeing gender equality, societal expectations and traditional customs still influence gender roles. The struggle against rigid gender roles has been a central theme in the feminist and womanist movements. These roles have often limited opportunities for both men and women, prescribing behaviors, career paths, and personal choices based on gender rather than individual abilities or desires. Feminism has challenged traditional gender roles by advocating for women's rights, such as voting, education, and employment. The first wave of feminism focused on legal inequalities, while subsequent waves have addressed issues like workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and gender-based violence. Womanism emphasize the need for an inclusive approach to gender equality that acknowledges the specific challenges faced by women of color. In the 21st century, there has been a growing recognition of gender as a spectrum rather than a binary concept. Movements for LGBTQ+ rights and the increasing visibility of non-binary and transgender individuals challenge traditional gender roles, advocating for a society where people are free to express their gender identities without discrimination. Despite progress, several challenges remain in the struggle for gender equality in Nigeria. Urbanization, education, and globalization are slowly reshaping gender roles in Nigeria. More women are entering professional fields, and there is growing awareness of the importance of gender equality. Young Nigerians, especially in urban areas, are challenging traditional expectations, advocating for shared responsibilities in the home and greater representation of women in leadership.

The theory of social constructionism posits that gender roles are not inherent or biologically determined, but are socially constructed. According to this theory, gender roles are learned and reinforced by socialization processes from an early age. Sociologist Judith Butler argues that gender is performative, meaning that individuals embody gender roles through repeated behaviors, which then solidify into what society perceives as a fixed identity. Butler's work emphasizes that gender is not something we are, but something we do.

Feminist scholars have critically examined gender roles, emphasizing that they are tools of patriarchal systems used to maintain male dominance and female submission. Second-wave feminists, such as Simone de Beauvoir, criticized the notion of woman as other in her seminal work The Second Sex (1949). De Beauvoir argued that women have historically been defined in relation to men and assigned roles that limit their autonomy and subjectivity. Kimberlé Crenshaw's reciprocal theory emphasizes that gender roles cannot be understood in isolation from other social categories such as race, class and sexuality. Intersectionality reveals that different groups of women (and men) experience gender roles in different ways, depending on their other identities. For example, a black woman may face different expectations and stereotypes than a white woman due to the intertwined influences of race and gender, queer theory challenges the binary understanding of gender and advocates a more fluid and diverse conceptualization of gender roles. Scholars such as Butler and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick criticize rigid categorizations of masculinity and femininity, suggesting that these binaries do not capture the entire human experience. Queer theory favors the deconstruction of traditional gender roles and favors a society that allows more individual expressions of identity.

In all these struggles for gender representation, there is still gender disparities in the education sector, homes and political representations. In northern Nigeria, where cultural and religious practices may limit girls’ access to schooling which early marriage is also a contribution sometimes. Gender-based violence is also a significant issue, with many cases going unreported due to cultural stigmas and inadequate legal protection for women. Women remain underrepresented in political leadership positions in Nigeria. Social norms often discourage women from pursuing political careers, and those who do face significant barriers, including violence and discrimination. Gender roles remain entrenched in many societies. Women continue to face discrimination in the workplace, unequal pay, and limited representation in leadership roles. Men, on the other hand, often struggle with expectations of masculinity, which can limit emotional expression and create pressure to conform to traditional ideas of male success. In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, gender roles play a significant role in Okonkwo's family. His daughter Ezimma was said to have the qualities of a man, she sits like a man, talks like a man, follows his father to the farm to help him tend his yarm, untimidated by boys and listens to bloody stories of war. At a point, Okonkwo wished Ezimma was a boy. According to Okonwo, those qualities are not needed in Ezimma because she would become somebody's wife one day where those qualities will be useless. In the other hands, Nwonye was the opposite of Ezimma, he prefered to stay in the kitchen listen to his mother's tender stories, he disliked bloody or war like stories. Okonwo was afraid that Nwonye might be lazy just like his own father which made him to beat Nwonye countless times though it changed nothing. Okonwo wished Nwonye could be exchanged with Ezimma in terms of their genders. The Cultural expectations of gender brings limitations. Responsibilities should be based on capabilities and abilities not on gender.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Gender movements like feminism and Womanism have fought for the equality of gender, because of their struggles, it seems gender inequalities and disparities have been exposed. The truth is, gender issues still exit. This study creates an awareness that gender inequalities and disparities is still prevalant while also delving into the specific link between gender roles and systemic corruption. Many studies focus on either gender or corruption, but not the nuanced ways in which gendered power dynamics contribute to corrupt practices. This study will expose how masculinity is contructed and how it relates to corruption and power dynamics.

1.3 Research Questions

Here are the questions generated from the texts

In what ways do gender roles shape the portrayal of corruption and justice in Frank Ogodo's Harvest of Corruption and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo's Hands that Crush Stones?
How do the female characters in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones challenge or conform to traditional gender roles, and what does this say about their roles in societal transformation.
How do the authors use gender roles to critique societal norms and promote themes of resistance and empowerment in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones
What role does gender play in the depiction of moral decay and resistance to oppression in Frank Ogodo's Harvest of Corruption and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo's Hands that Crush Stones.
What are the implications of patriarchal structures on the lives of women in Frank Ogodo's Harvest of Corruption and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo's Hands that Crush Stones, and how do these structures impact their agency?

1.4 Aim and Objectives.

The aim of the study is to examine how the female characters in the selected texts were able to challenge patriarchy and overcome power dynamics and corruption. . The specific objectives are:
To examine how gender roles shape the portrayal of corruption and justice in Frank Ogodo's Harvest of Corruption and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo's Hands that Crush Stones.
To analyze how female characters in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones challenge or conform to traditional gender roles and assess their roles in societal transformation.
To investigate how gender roles are used by the authors to critique societal norms and promote themes of resistance and empowerment in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones.
To evaluate the role of gender in the depiction of moral decay and resistance to oppression in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones.
To explore the implications of patriarchal structures on the lives of women in Harvest of Corruption and Hands that Crush Stones and assess how these structures impact their agency.

1.5 Research methodology

This study uses a qualitative research design, focusing on...

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