Is it Gender Diversity or Gender Adversity? A Feministic analysis of Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions 

Abstract

Gender (dis)parity has, throughout the years, proven to be primal, with women, especially in African communities, continuing to be structurally repressed by the patriarchal establishments. These women strive to reclaim their rightful place in society through gender activism. They protest against this gender-based socio-economic deprivation that is ravaging both the world and the African continent through Feministic theoretical assumptions. This study is, therefore, underpinned by the Feminist theory which is guided by exploratory research design. Its aim is to critically explore gender issues in Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions (2004). It has, furthermore, employed qualitative research approach to endeavour to understand the nature of gender vulnerabilities in Africa through Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions. Purposive sampling was used to select the novel from the other literary works by the same author because of its appositeness to the study. Critical textual analysis was used as a data analysis technique to dissect the novel. The study has established that there is gender adversity which impedes development in Africa and the world. It, furthermore, recommends that African governments should strengthen consequence management instruments in their countries in order to subvert gender-based challenges for social justice and women empowerment.