Patriarchy and Oppression: A study of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

Abstract

Africa is predominately a patriarchal society engineered by her traditional culture. This article examines the portrayal of patriarchal roles in African society as depicted in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen. Through a comparative analysis of these seminal works of African literature, the article explores how patriarchy manifests and is challenged within the cultural and historical contexts of Nigeria. Drawing upon the deconstruction of gender theory and womanism theory, the study elucidates the complex dynamics of gender, power, and resistance in African communities, shedding light on the enduring legacy of patriarchy and its implications for women's lives.