Is there a Place that is Non-Gendered in this World?: A Critique of Oyewumi’s Non-Gendered Yorùbá Family (original) (raw)

Gender Issues Among the Yorubas

2013

In this essay, I critically look at the question of feminism from its theological and academic perspectives and how it has impacted women’s lives around the world. I argue that pre-colonial and missionary incursion into Yoruba land in West Africa the question of feminism as it is argued today was none existent. From a historical purview, feminism among Yoruba women is examined from the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial eras to locate the shift in perception and ideology of feminism among Yoruba women. In this essay, both colonialism and missionary activities during the colonial period are held responsible for whatever kind of feminism which exists among the Yorubas today.

Women in the Yoruba Religious Sphere - Oyeronke Olajubu

This work is a revision and enlargement of my Ph.D. thesis at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The journey from its conception to the various stages of writing has been an interesting and dynamic one; marked by challenges. The work has neither lacked critics nor admirers at every step of the way. It is therefore delightful to have a good and publishable work to which many people have contributed at the end of the day. Some of the people who contributed to this work did so consciously while others did unconsciously; to them all, I am grateful.

Gender Relations in Indigenous Yoruba Culture: Questioning Feminism Action and Advocacy

2022

Western feminism has diffused to many other cultures, who have imbibed without proper reflection. This is similar for the Yorùbá people of South-Western Nigeria. Yorùbá culture is gender-neutral and gender-silent; women are seen as complementary and not subordinate to men. Hence, (Oyěwùmí 1997), caution must be raised on the continual adoption of mainstream Western feminist philosophy in Yorùbá culture. Consequently, an argument was submitted for a different approach to doing feminism in Yorùbá culture. In essence, colonial imposition of gender binary in Yorùbá society; roles and gender status of women in traditional Yorùbá culture; women anti-colonial and feminist activities were discussed. The decolonization of Africa and the Yorùbá education system to include a properly historicized indigenous knowledge was recommended. Current feminist movements must also develop a 'shared text of blackness'. The duo should align and improve the worth of women based on the indispensabili...

African Culture and the Status of Women: The Yoruba Example

Issues relating to the rights of women across the globe are a major focus of contemporary scholarship. Quest for women emancipation has been on the increase in religious, political and economic spheres. This is premised on the fact that women are always at the receiving end. This however has been discovered not to be true in its entirety as women in every society enjoy some inalienable privileges. This paper therefore discusses the status of Yoruba women in traditional Africa from a holistic perspective, with emphasis on how culture has impacted negatively on their well-being, although there are benefits derive from their status in society. Thus, it recommended that cultural practices that are harmful to women should be discarded, while caution must be exercised in the quest for the liberation of women so that African cultural values can be retained, and thus not destroyed under the guise of civilization.

"Oriaku Vs Okpataku": The Changing Roles of Femininity within the Patriarchal Igbo Tradition in Nigeria

Az-Zahra Journal of Gender and Family Studies, 2023

Over time, the ease of access has been to the advantage of men and the disadvantage of women, especially in a traditional society like Nigeria. However, despite the marginalization, it appears that women are beginning to challenge norms, traditions, cultures, and stereotypes by breaking free from the shackles of patriarchy. Hence, this study examines the current perception of femininity concerning employment and income. Specifically, it aimed at understanding how the clamor for gender equality and equity has changed one of the characteristics of femininity from "Oriaku" to "Okpataku" in a typical patriarchal society like Anambra State, Nigeria. Using the Constructionist Theory of representation as a framework, the study adopts in-depth interviews as a qualitative approach. Findings reveal that both men and women are more comfortable with being Okpataku than Oriaku, owing to the recent harsh economic reality in the country. Recommendations were made based on the findings.