“Womanhood Under the Magnifying Glass\": A look at Insanity Among Women in African Literature and Society

Abstract

Every society has its own challenges and aspirations, but how these are handled makes a lot of difference. The approach to issues, the nature of the issues and the outcome of such issues are very crucial to the development and peace of the society. Africa as a Third World continent so to say has come a full circle with the good, the bad and the ugly just like any other continent of the world. The difference with Africa's case may be the nature and approach to problems plaguing the continent. Africa is blessed with both natural and human resources---especially with crude oil and other mineral resources and a huge population. The continent is vast in land mass; she is blessed with good climatic condition, vibrant soil suitable for agriculture and a lot more. Yet the continent is under developed. This paper attempts an appraisal of issues that may have accounted for this underdevelopment over the years by looking at the position of mad women in this society and what would have been their contributions, economically, socially and politically to the development of the continent. Using the theory of “otherness” signifying exclusion as propounded by Simone de Beauvior, the paper brings out the plight of these “unwanted” in society and evaluates what they are worth in literary texts and in the society. Keywords: Womanhood, InsanityGender & Behaviour Vol. 6 (2) 2008: pp. 1689-1701