Abstract:
his paper examines the oppressive nature of the patriarchal
society and the Feminist voice for fair treatment of women to
restore her respect and dignity. To illustrate the feminist
concerns and the subversive practices, three short stories
have been used namely: Tandiwe Myambo’s, “Decidious
Gazelles”, Lindsey Collen’s “The Enigma”, and Ifeoma Okoye’s
“The Power of a Plate of Rice”. All the three stories appear in
Vera (1999).The paper exposes the challenges facing the
woman in a patriarchal society. The women in the three short
stories live within family units with clearly defined roles and
expectations for harmonious living, but the reversal takes
place. The man has usurped authority and his domineering
nature is being felt both at home and at the work place. The
men have accepted their superior roles, granted to them
naturally by the patriarchal society. The woman finds it difficult
to both accept and play the subordinate roles because of their
oppressive nature. The paper will explore the plight of these
women, both single and married and attempt to get into their
inner lives to see the situations they face, the challenges and
their struggle to liberate themselves from the oppressive
patriarchal system.
