Beyond feminism

Abstract

This study investigates the enormous exploitation, subjugation and the embedded inferiority complex imposed upon women by other women utilising patriarchal cultural and traditional principles as justification. The examination will be conducted by exploring four isiXhosa literary texts, namely: UNongxaki nezakhe (1976) by G. Belebesi; UDike noCikizwa (1988) by A.M. Mmango; Iinkunzi Ezimbini (1994) by H. Mothlabane and Yeha Mfazi Obulala Indoda (1997) by L.L. Ngewu. Moreover, this study attempts to go beyond feminism with the logic that feminism is a broad concept which generally seeks to emancipate and empower women from all oppressive structures and norms suffered at the hands of patriarchy. Probing beyond feminism in this study means investigating both men and women as direct perpetrators of women’s subjugation and oppression. Exploring this issue is essential in the quest to rectify gender injustices and inequalities. For better empowerment, women are to unite. However, unity is unattainable when there are women who subconsciously and, at times, consciously belittle and agonize other women under the patriarchal cultural and traditional guise and banner. Culture and tradition play a fundamental role in the moulding and shaping of many African societies and amaXhosa in particular. Thus, it is essential to conduct this investigation, utilizing African feminisms as the leading philosophies to ensure that amaXhosa cultures and traditions are not neglected but brought under critical surveillance. This is to ensure that they are enhanced to represent the modern era, with advanced women experiences and their collective modus operandi. African feminisms acknowledge cultures and traditions as the backbone of African societies and recognize that, in particular, amaXhosa and African women in general have a history of resilience and fearlessness. African feminisms do not view men as adversaries of women since African men and women have worked together, rebelling side-by-side against African enemies for centuries. African feminisms seek to expose all gender inequalities, and remedy them through uniting African men and women to share all platforms and principles justly, and equitably.Olu phando lujolise ekuhlalutyeni ukuxhatshazwa, ukunyanzeliswa nokunyenjwa kwamanina ngamanye amanina kusetyenziswa imigaqo yeenkcubeko nezithethe njengezizathu zokwenza oko. Olu phando luqhutywa ngokuphonononga izicatshulwa zoncwadi lwesiXhosa ezine, zezi zilandelayo: UNongxaki nezakhe (1976), ngokubhalwa nguG. Belebesi; UDike noCikizwa (1988), ngokubhalwa nguA.M. Mmango; Iinkunzi Ezimbini (1994), ngokubhalwa nguH. Mothlabane kunye noYeha Mfazi Obulala Indoda (1997), ngokubhalwa nguL.L. Ngewu. Ngaphezu koko, olu phononongo luzama ukuqabela ngaphaya kobukhomokazi phantsi kwengqiqo ethi ubukhomokazi luluvo nje oluphangaleleyo nolunjongo ikukukhulula ngokubanzi kwakunye nokuxhobisa amanina ngazo zonke izimo kunye nezithethe ezicinezelayo nezixhaphazayo ezandleni zamadoda. Ukuphanda ngokuqabela ngaphaya kobukhomokazi kolu phando kuthetha ukuphanda amadoda kunye namanina njengabanyhukuli nabaxhaphazi bamanina. Ukuphonononga kwalo mba kubalulekile kwiphulo lokulungisa ukungabikho kobulungisa kunye nokungalingani ngokwesini. Ukuze abe nokuxhobiseka ngcono, amanina kufuneka emanyene. Nangona kunjalo, umanyano alunakufikeleleka xa kukho amanina athi esezingqondweni ngokugqibeleleyo, okanye mhlawumbi ngokungaqondi ngamanye amaxesha, edelela futhi engcikiva amanye amanina phantsi kwezithethe ezingcikivayo zobudoda. Iinkcubeko nezithethe zidlala indima ebalulekileyo ekubunjweni kwanasekuyilweni kwezizwe ezininzi zamaAfrika, ingakumbi amaXhosa. Ngoko ke, kubalulekile ukwenza olu phando kusetyenziswa ubukhomokazi baseAfrika njengeyona mo yengqiqo iphambili ngenjongo yokuqinisekisa ukuba iinkcubeko nezithethe zamaXhosa azityeshelwa koko zibekwa phantsi kweliso elibukhali. Oku kukuqinisekisa ukuba ziyaphuculwa ukuze zikwazi ukumelana namaxesha esphila kuwo, ngamava amanina aphambili kwanangendlela asebenza ngayo amanina. Ubukhomokazi baseAfrika buyazamkela iinkcubeko nezithethe njengentsika yentlalo yamaAfrika kwaye buyayiqonda nento yokuba amaXhosa, ingakumbi, namaninaase-Afrika ngokubanzi, anembali yokumelana neenzima kwanokukhalipha. Ubukhomokazi base-Afrika abuwathabathi njengotshaba lwamanina amadoda kuba kaloku amadoda namabhinqa ase-Afrika akhe asebenzisana isithuba seenkulungwane zeminyaka elwisana neentshaba zezwekazi lakokwethu. Injongo yobukhomokazi base-Afrika kukubhentsisa konke ukungalingani ngokwesini ngokuthi bulungise ngokudihlanganisa amadoda namanina ase-Afrika ukuze abelane ngawo onke amaqonga kunye nemigaqo ngokuselekwe kubulungisa, nangokulinganayo.