Gender inequality is nothing new this is experienced on our jobs, in our churches and even in our homes. According to Wikipedia, gender inequality is the idea and situation that women and men are not equal. Men have always been seen as the providers, the superior sex of the two, whereas women has been seen as the babymakers , and the inferior sex. Women for so long didn’t have a voice they were seen as replaceable, irrelevant.
Much of the Igblo culture in “Things Fall Apart” represents gender inequality. Women are shown to be the weaker of the two sexes. A woman’s role according to this book was basically to become a bride, wait hand and foot on your husband, make his meals, wash his clothes, to bear and raise his children. All the important decisions were made by the man, women did not have a say so in any of the decisions. Women couldn’t even ask questions in this time for example when Okonkwo brought Ikemefuna home he gave him to his senior wife and said ” He belongs to the clan,” he told her. So look after him.” Is he staying long with us? she asked. Do what you are told, woman,>” When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia? And so Nwoye’s mother took Ikemefuna to her hut and asked no more questions.” (Achebe,14)
Beating your wife for anything was permitted in the Igbo culture. Throughout this book you it states that Okonwo would beat his wives and his children. He would beat his children if he felt they were acting like cowards or acting femine . For example his beat his second wife for not having his food ready. “And when she returned he beat her very heavily (Achebe, 29) With his anger he actually forgets that it is the week of peace and never forgives his fault hence he should here the wise man say “if man cannot forgive woman with her little bit mistake, he never enjoys her great virtue.”. Another example in the book was when the second wife said something about guns that never shot. He aimed the gun at her and pulled the trigger fortuantly she was not hurt. All his wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper (Achebe 2.12).
In the Igbo community and culture, women had many roles and duties.
Men were known to be the sole providers in their families, each and everything was based on gender even the crops. Coco yams, beans and cassava were known as women crop, yams were known to be the male crop. Not only were the crops gender based, but other things as well. For instance, when Ezinma and Okonkwo were talking about going to see the wrestling. “Father, will you go to see the wrestling? Ezinma asked. Yes he answered . Will you go? Yes. And after a pause she said : Can I bring your chair for you? “No that’s a boy’ job”.(Achebe, 44). Something as simple as bringing a chair was determined by gender. Women had to talk a certain way dress a certain was even sit a certain way there was one point in the story where Okonkwo got on Ezinma for the way she was sitting. Women were treated like strangers they were not even allowed to be present for the court ceremonies they had to stand far off, they were never involved in important decisions are discussions.
Their was a lot of gender inequality in this culture however they had great reverence for Chielo the priestess of Agbala and also the same reverence for Chika who was also a priestess. ” She was full of the power of her god, and was greatly feared” (Achebe, 17). Reading this I became a little confused I couldn’t understand how a culture who looked down on women, would worship and obey the word of a woman. This shows women really did play a very important role in that culture. When it came down to religion they did not care which geneder was used because it was the holy spirit speaking and all genders had a reverence for the holy spirit. Even today some men feel that women are inferior to them but you see many women today who are pastors leading some of the largest congregations..
The role of women in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall limits largely both their power and authority. It is noted that Okonkwo is a very aggrieved man indeed, “He literally mourned for the Ibo society which in his own perspective viewed it as one that was breaking and falling apart. He also deeply felt for the war like men of Umuofia, who all of a sudden had become soft land tender like the women. (21.25)”. This breaking activity of the Umuofia people was a signal of weakness femininity and weakness. He once regarded his clan with great value as they shown the masculinity aspect of it, but afterwards mourns his clan after it adapts to femininity. It is clear that in the Ibo society, women are viewed to hold very significant roles and tasks as compared to the men; hence they act as nurturers, priestesses and earth goddesses.