Images of women in Gikuyu oral narratives

Abstract

This study starts on the premise that literature is key to understanding society. It therefore proposes that a serious and analytical evaluation of oral literature could lead to an understanding of Kenyan society's attitude towards women. It is argued that this kind of study from one community should provide a framework within which to support or reject the commonly expressed desire, to go back to our traditions where there was peace and harmony in gender relations. The hypothesis guiding this study proposes that Oral Literature and in particular oral narratives present images of women that are worth of serious study. These images, in turn, reflect the society's attitude towards women and girls. Our discussions in the various chapters expose a lot of dynamics in the presentation of women and girls. Tension ranges as artists try to portray girls as passive, flippant, irresponsible, childish and unreliable while the same girls happen to be intelligent, calculating, sensible and responsible in relation to their brothers. In the same manner, wives are castigated for their disloyalty, hypocrisy, untrustworthiness, cunning nature and unreliability. But the same wives are also mothers who are self-sacrificing, reliable, custodians of history and culture. The tension is clear, the society loves and hates women, fears and admires them, wants to listen to them and control them. These are the dynamics that come into play in this analysis. The uncertain direction pointed out by analysis of narratives from many amateurs and active tradition bearers leads us to zero in on two professional story tellers Wanjira wa Rukenya and Kabebe wa Nyarocho. We then use the narratological method to closely address a number of narratives. This too reveals even more interesting dynamics for the two artists clearly indicate that story tellers can and do hold different ideological positions which influence the plot and structure of the stories. Our study therefore points to further areas of research that would lead to a closer understanding of the dynamics of gender stereotypes and gender relations. It also calls for more emphasis on individual artists in order to understand both male and female perspectives on gender and society. The use of narratives as a form of mystification and a tool for perpetuation of gender based oppression is revealed. This might lead us to appreciate the relationship between oral narratives, gender and ideology. This thesis therefore ends not on a conclusive note but in opening up new areas of research to address gender concerns in the fields of literature, culture, gender and ideology.