Excavating gender inequality in Igbo culture

J. Obi Oguejiofor, Ike Odimegwu

Abstract


Anthropological studies done during the colonial times depicted Igbo women as socially, politically and economically very influential in their societies. This article highlights some of these studies but departs from the point that the Igbo society is patrilineal and that colonial realities succeeded in witling down the pristine powers of women. It explores some of the factors that today surreptitiously reaffirm the cultural denigration of women including language, proverbs, music, marriage process, inheritance rights and widowhood practices. The hermeneutics of these factors leads to the conclusion that unless these and other factors are correctly read in terms of their uncritical assumptions in favour of patriarchy, it becomes more difficult if not impossible to bring them to consciousness and to strive for the necessary improvement attendant on the negative implications of gender inequality in Igbo culture.

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