This thesis offers a feminist analysis of women and gender in the novels of Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Delphine Zanga Tsogo, Calixthe Beyala, Werewere Liking, Mariama Ba, Miriam Tlali and Bessie Head. My analyses appropriate and rethink western feminist theories of gender and post-colonial literary theory. I maintain that the texts analyzed are also theoretical, since feminist theory is embedded in the polysemy of the texts themselves. The study demonstrates that identity and sexuality are not static sites of oppression for women. They are contesting terrains where the subversion of difference, and the construction of identity, subjectivity and sexuality, are interlocking issues. Women's positional perspectives and varying subject positions are shown to be their strengths.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2007. / Title from title page screen, viewed on July 16, 2008. Dissertation Committee: Cynthia A. Huff (chair), Ronald L. Strickland, Paula Ressler. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 270-282) and abstract. Also available in print.

Reisbeskrywings, en veral die reispoësie as genre, het met die aanbreek van die twintigste eeu „n opbloei binne die Afrikaanse letterkunde beleef. Talle Afrikaanse skrywers en digters het na verskillende kontinente gereis en hul ondervindinge in roman, dagboek of joernaalvorm aangeteken. Die Afrikaanse skrywers sluit hulself gevolglik aan by die tradisie van die reisbeskrywing wat reeds eeue lank deel vorm van die globale literêre kanon. Reispoësie kom veral voor in die werk van digters soos C. Louis Leipoldt, Uys Krige, W.E.G. Louw, N.P. van Wyk Louw, D.J. Opperman, Breyten Breytenbach, Lina Spies, Petra Muller, Joan Hambidge en meer onlangs Melt Myburgh. Dit is veral Hambidge wat oor reis in haar poësie skryf. In 2011 verskyn „n versameling van Hambidge se reisgedigte wat sedert 1985-2010 in van haar bundels verskyn het onder die titel Visums by verstek – ‘n Keur uit die reisgedigte van Joan Hambidge. Hambidge bespreek sekere deurlopende temas in haar gedigte. Die temas sluit in: die poësie en die verhouding tussen die liefde en die poësie, die mens as alleenreisiger deur die wêreld, die dood en die huldiging van gestorwenes asook die beskrywing van sekere gebeurtenisse in die wêreldgeskiedenis. In hierdie skripsie word gefokus op die ontleding van Hambidge se reisgedigte wat onder drie verwante temas bespreek word naamlik die stad as vreemde rumite, reis as metafoor vir ontvlugting van die geliefde en reis as kreatiewe stimulus. Hierdie ondersoek geskied aan die hand van onder meer Pratt se konsep van “kontaksones”. Reispoësie word binne die konteks van globalisasie as „n belangrike bron van inligting en inspirasie beskou aangesien dit tot „n nuwe geslag wêreldreisigers spreek wat opnuut die literêre waarde van die reisbeskrywing- en poësie ontdek het.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995. / Typescript. "Bibliography of publications by 70 African American women writers in New Jersey": leaves 209-227. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-166).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 1997. / In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Department of Secondary Education. Also available online.

Gender oppression has been a significant discussion to the development of gender, cultural and feminist theories. The primary focus of this study is to investigate how patriarchal traditions, colonialism, and religious oppression force women to struggle under constrictions oppositional to empowerment. Thus, the project provides a comparative analysis of three texts from different African postcolonial societies by three African female writers: Mariama Bâ, Neshani Andreas and Sindiwe Magona. The author‟s biographies and historical context of their novels will be analyzed, as well as a summary of their stories will be included in order to provide the context for gender criticism. These writer‟s work; So Long a Letter, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu and Beauty‟s Gift depict patriarchal, cultural and religious laws which exist in Senegal, Namibia and South Africa, respectively, that limit the position of women. Therefore, this study will interrogate the experience of African women as inscribed in these selected texts, uncovering the literary expressions of gender oppression as well as the possibilities of empowerment. The selected texts will be analyzed through the lens of Gender studies, African feminism and Cultural studies. From these theories, the focus of the study is on the struggles of the female characters living in patriarchal societies as well as on the idea that gender is constructed socially and culturally in the African context. In conclusion, the emergence of these renowned female African writers together with the emancipation of African countries from colonial supremacy has opened a space for women to compensate and correct the stereotyped female images in African literature and post- colonial societies. Most contemporary African writers like Buchi Emecheta, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Sindiwe Magona, Mariama Bâ and Neshani Andreas have shown that women are seeking to attain empowerment. As a result, this study can be viewed as an opportunity to highlight such experiences by continuing to interrogate the writings of African women writers and to explore their gender-based themes so as to inform and or inspire the implementation of women empowerment. It will broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of Cultural studies and gender criticism of women‟s literature within the African context.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, The Divinity School, December 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Jerrilyn McGregory, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of English. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 12, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. (English))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.