Nervous Conditions Rhetorical Analysis

When the Huffington Post interviewed Oprah Winfrey about the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls located in South Africa, they asked her views regarding educating and empowering women. Oprah replied, “How do I view it? It is THE way - capital THE. It is THE way. Because it’s not just rhetoric - it is a fact - that when you change a girl’s life you affect her vision of herself and her immediate world and the world that she will have an impact on.” (1) Oprah isn’t alone in her views. The Global Partnership for Education lists 10 reasons; there are obstacles in educating children in poor countries. Here are two, which I believe are similar to the position Tambu experienced in Nervous Conditions:
5. Being the “wrong” gender
6. The
Isn’t this what Tambu was facing had it not been for the death of her brother? This is the brother that was to be educated simply because he was a male. Her aunt, Maiguru, held a master’s degree, yet, stayed at home never utilizing her education to enhance the family position, or her own. Tambu sought to be educated to escape her life of poverty.
Why would this be though? Could it be due to the Shona culture? Nervous Conditions point out how prevalent patriarchy and gender oppression was. "Can you cook books and feed them to your husband? Stay at home with your mother. Learn to cook and clean. Grow vegetables." (Jeremiah pg. 15) Similarly, Faat Kine reveals a vivid example of patriarchy that exists within the Senegalaise society as Kine apologizes to her father for bearing children out of wedlock. A second example reveals itself as Kine broke barriers and taboos when making herself a successful gas station owner. "We have all the responsibilities of a man, but none of the benefits."
Anthony fought for women’s rights and to abolish slavery. Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun dedicated her life to helping the poor and those who were sick. She was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in 2006 took office as the President of Liberia. And Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, an African scientist and political activist has been credited for establishing the Green Belt Movement. “The Green Belt Movement (GBM) is an environmental organization that empowers communities, particularly women, to conserve the environment and improve livelihoods.” (6) Most of us though would associate more with household names such as Senator Hillary Clinton who failed in her attempt to be the first female President of the United States, or Oprah Winfrey the actress, talk show host, producer and widely known for her philanthropy. All these women have fought against injustices, and have dispelled the stereotypes placed on