Private Property and Gender Relationship in Select African Novels

Abstract

The economic system and society conspire to oppress the female, since it is the socialization process that defines the worth of the individual in society. The exclusive control of private property and ownership of tools of labour by patriarchy perpetuates the continuous gender war as seen in select African novels. Private property gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political and domestic struggle between the sexes. Private property and gender relationship in select African novels is examined through the Feminist theory with particular reference to Marxist Feminist theory, Stiwanism and Motherism. Feminist writers argue that women’s subordination is not as a result of their biological disposition but of social relations, so, they set out to institute the female presence through private property ownership and the women’s contributions to the social, business, political and educational spheres of their nations. Some authors celebrate the intellectual and spiritual powers in the females to redeem mankind. These dynamo women revolt against taboos and other anti-socio-cultural practices that tend to undermine them and establish themselves in wide spread virtues that are beneficial to humanity. The paper establishes that ownership of private property by the women gives rise to gender relationship, economic, social and political equality since private property has hither to, being the bane of patriarchal stronghold.