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The Joy Of Motherhood Analysis

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Gender and Colonialism It was fascinating to see and be able to understand the comparison between Ferdinand Oyono’s Houseboy and Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood. What was more intriguing was being able to understand Africa’s history a lot more. Both books are fictional literature primary sources. Although the novels are not true, they take the audience on a historic ride. Readers get an insight of how Africans actually feel, experience everyday life, and are finally able to read something not written by the Europeans. Many historical changes, like World War I, World War II, colonialism, and urbanization, occur throughout these books. Learning about the authors definitely gives the audience an insight to how both of these novels were …show more content…

Being moved and forced into urbanization was a little bit of a struggle at first knowing it was hard for her to procreate. The Joys of Motherhood takes place during a very important time in Africa when urbanization was to happening. Nnu Ego’s life begins to slowly change when she starts working in this informal economy. She is barely able to make a small income by selling cigarettes and matches individually. At first she really enjoyed making her own income and being able to spend her money as she likes. During urbanization the idea of family and the division of labor was everything for women. Nnu Ego felt very pressured to create a family so she assimilates to her husband’s everyday life and begins to go to church with him and adopt the idea of family being a priority. During the war most jobs were only reserved for men. After Nnu Ego’s husband is sent away to fight in the war, it became a struggle to support her family. She was forced into labor but it was much harder for her to buy packs of cigarettes and matches individually due to the informal economy. As the war was taking place this informal economy forced women to work to support their families and make up for their husband’s income while they’re fighting in the war. Because Nnu Ego needed to make an income, there was no extended family to watch her child while working, she was forced to have her baby on her

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