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The Portrayal of Militant Motherhood and Resistance to Autocracy and Patriarchy in Postcolonial African Novels (Late Twentieth and Early Twenty-First Century)
Department: English & Philosophy
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Paper000
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Pocatello
Unknown to Unknown
Rudo Chigweshe
Idaho State University
Dissertation
No
6/25/2025
digital
City: Pocatello
Doctorate
This dissertation examines ways in which selected Zimbabwean and Kenyan postcolonial African novels and memoirs from the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries expand understandings of militant motherhood and its connection to diverse gender performances. The analysis focuses on Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions (1988) and This Mournable Body (2020), Ngugi wa Thiong'o's Petals of Blood (1977) and Wizard of the Crow (2006), NoViolet Bulawayo's Glory (2022), and Wangari Maathai's memoir Unbowed (2006). These works collectively examine women's experiences across colonial and postcolonial eras, revealing their struggles within the private domestic sphere and against public state power. Militant motherhood in this study is defined as the resolute activism of mothers who fight for the rights and welfare of their children and communities, often using nonviolent methods like community organizing, education, and advocacy. This framework is grounded in existing postcolonial studies and insights from political and social studies. The study argues that the women depicted, including those in Maathai’s memoir and the selected novels, challenge traditional gender roles by becoming active agents of change. Female characters from Glory, Unbowed, Petals of Blood, and Wizard of the Crow actively confront corruption and patriarchal suppression and advocate for a more just society, showcasing the transformative potential of female leadership. These women resist oppression through various forms of activism, such as bodily protests, lobbying, and organizing, and by raising awareness of their plight as mothers. Their struggles are deeply connected to the political and social issues of their time, highlighting the complex ways gender, power, and society intertwine. By focusing on the women’s diverse rhetorical strategies, this research demonstrates how women empower themselves and the importance of their leadership in postcolonial societies. It also considers how race, class, and economic background shape their experiences and activism. The women’s actions are not merely about breaking free from traditional roles; they are about fighting for collective justice and equality. This research goes beyond literary analysis to illuminate contemporary African feminist movements and emphasize women’s multifaceted contributions to political and social change. Keywords: Militant Motherhood, Postcolonial African Novels, Gender Performance, Women's Agency, Female Leadership, African Feminism.

The Portrayal of Militant Motherhood and Resistance to Autocracy and Patriarchy in Postcolonial African Novels (Late Twentieth and Early Twenty-First Century)

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