Abstract
Questions of identity, power, autonomy and vulnerability carry a particular weight in cultures that have emerged from colonialism. Although few writers of fiction focus on the conflicts between African and European characters, a focus on power and marginalisation remains. One category in which this focus may be plainly seen is writing for and about young people. The study’s aim was to analyse young adult fiction written by a Ugandan female author, Barbara Kimenye to investigate this writing to find out how young adult vulnerability is depicted in literature. Although literature targeting young people in Uganda has flourished and though issues of limited representation have been scrutinised in literary studies, like gender discrimination, very limited attention has been accorded young adult representation in literature. This research analyses fiction written by a female author Barbara Kimenye to expand knowledge about the criticism of young adult representation in literature with particular focus on young adult vulnerability in an adult dominated world. The methodology was mainly qualitative research design, where a document analysis method was used to aid analysis and make critical appreciation of the fictional works. The study investigated the state of young adult characters in literature with special focus on their vulnerability.
Highlights
In this study, I examine how the young adult characters in two of Kimenye‟s novels for young adults (Beauty Queen and Prettyboy, Beware) are depicted as being vulnerable to a host of ills, for instance exploitation, sexual abuse and substance abuse
The above quotations capture all key aspects of vulnerability that I identify in the texts under study: exploitation, emotional and sexual abuse, material and financial deprivation, physical injury, and violation of human rights, among others
After this a textual analysis of each of the fictional works is done. 2.1 Synopses of the Texts under Discussion 2.1.1 Beauty Queen Beauty Queen tells the story of Adela who jokingly joins a beauty contest that is organized in her home town upon being requested by the pageant organizer, Yoweri Wamala
Summary
I examine how the young adult characters in two of Kimenye‟s novels for young adults (Beauty Queen and Prettyboy, Beware) are depicted as being vulnerable to a host of ills, for instance exploitation, sexual abuse and substance abuse. 2.1 Synopses of the Texts under Discussion 2.1.1 Beauty Queen Beauty Queen tells the story of Adela who jokingly joins a beauty contest that is organized in her home town upon being requested by the pageant organizer, Yoweri Wamala While she considers both participating in the contest and winning it as a joke, a cunning businessman called Joe Banda takes these two seriously, and decides to train her so that she competes in international pageants. She wins the very first international one she participates in named Pan Africa Beauty Contest and soon becomes a celebrity, but with this success comes tragedy: she contracts HIV when she sleeps with one of the judges—a film star she has always admired and who happens to be HIV positive—and soon dies of AIDS. Suffice it to mention that the fictional works are conceived as didactic ones, for they are meant to communicate particular messages to the intended audience of young adult readers, who are likely to identify with Adela (who is sixteen years old) and Matthew (who is twelve years old)
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