TAPESTRY OF TRADITION: EXAMINING GENDER IDENTITIES IN IGBO AND YORUBA LANGUAGES
Authors: Funmilayo Oluwaseun Adewale, Taiwo Olumide Adetola
Published: March 2024
Abstract
<p>The exploitation of women's sexuality through metaphysical identities remains pervasive within African cultural consciousness, perpetuating derogatory stereotypes and social inequalities. Rooted in ancient beliefs born of ignorance and entrenched through post-colonial mental conditioning, these perceptions instill fear and perpetuate negative attitudes towards women. Throughout history, African societies have assigned women negative attributes, associating them with concepts such as witchcraft and spirit possession. These metaphysical identities impose restrictive stereotypes on women, impacting their social interactions and perpetuating their marginalization. Scholars like Mbiti underscore the prevalence of beliefs portraying women as witches endowed with supernatural powers to harm others. Across various African cultures, women are often scapegoated for societal ills, further reinforcing their negative metaphysical identity. For instance, among the Ga people of the Guinea Coast, women are believed to be vessels for evil spirits, perpetuating this negative identity through generations. This paper delves into the dual identities experienced by African women: the physical and the metaphysical, elucidating their implications on women's social status and relationships</p>
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