Gender stereotyping in Indlela yababi and Kuxolelwa abanjani?: a corpus linguistics approach

Abstract

In this article, we use corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis to examine gender stereotyping in three isiZulu novels, namely Indlela yababi (‘The path of the wicked’) by RRR Dhlomo, Inkinsela yaseMgungundlovu (‘The tycoon of Pietermaritzburg’) by CLS Nyembezi, and Kuxolelwa abanjani? (‘Who deserves to be forgiven?’) by NG Sibiya. Our investigation regarding Inkinsela yaseMgungundlovu failed to deliver significant results, therefore our analysis is centred around the other two novels. Our focus is on the ways in which the body parts of female and male characters are used and described in the chosen texts. The article focuses on the following body parts: isandla and izandla (‘hand’ and ‘hands’), amehlo (‘eyes’), ikhanda (‘head’) and ubuso (‘face’). We investigate whether the ways in which female and male characters use their body parts and the ways in which they are described represent male and female characters stereotypically, as well as whether they reveal aspects of power relations between men and women. Our study employs the theoretical framework of gender studies. The results reveal that female characters are depicted as caring and supportive, emotional and beautiful, whereas male characters are depicted as courageous, in control of their emotions, aggressive and dangerous.