“Our Women Keep Our Skies from Falling”: Representation of Women’s Challenges and Resilience in Three Contemporary African Novels

HyperCultura

卷:10

Zoly RAKOTONIERA RAKOTONDRAVELO¹ 

[1] University of Antananarivo;

关键词: african women;    representation;    victimhood;    resilience;    transnational solidarity;    storytelling;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

One of the major changes occurring on the African continent during the last 40 years is the feminist redefinition of gender roles. Yet, in a fast-changing context and despite all the critical advances in terms of women's conditions, a lot still needs to be achieved. A deeper exploration of how African women are represented in an era of globalization marked by State failure, migration crises, and extreme poverty is essential. This paper aims at analyzing the way women are represented in contemporary African literature. A feminist comparative analysis of three international prize-winning novels, namely Americanah (2013) by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Need New Names (2013) by Zimbabwean author NoViolet Bulawayo, and Juillet au Pays: Chroniques d’un retour à Madagascar (2007) (July in the Country: Narratives of a Return to Madagascar)by Malagasy writer Michèle Rakotoson enables us to shed light on hitherto unexplored images of African women. According to these writers, African women are victims of several forms of violence and injustice; however, they are resilient and are able to achieve agency thanks to national and transnational feminist solidarity. Such solidarity offers them freedom and the power to cause changes to their country. The novels also highlight the symbolic importance of storytelling for women.

【 授权许可】

Unknown