Matrices of Violence: A Post-structural Feminist Rendering of Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero and Lola Soneyin’s The Secrets of Baba Segi’s Wives

Abstract

There is quite a significant discourse on patriarchy and women identity in neo-colonial states. These studies border on dehumanization, victimization, and discrimination against women. Gender activists and women right advocates have been in the forefront of calls for recognition and protection of the rights of women in the African patriarchal society. The interventions recognize the African patriarchal structure, but the advocacy emphasizes the need to accord the female gender a pride of place in the sociocultural milieu. This study identified and analyzed lopsided societal treatment of the female gender in literary works of two African writers of different sociocultural backgrounds using Poststructuralist feminist theory. The study identified the societies reflected in the literary writings as representations of patriarchal societies that place the female gender in less favorable conditions; thus, making it subservient to the male gender. The study concluded that the female gender is disadvantaged in some African societies. The study recommends that all patriarchal societies need to accord the female gender respect and recognition in order to enhance their contribution to social and economic development of the society.