Interrogating feminisms, victimhood and patriarchy: A stiwanist reading of The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (Andreas, 2001)

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to apply a feminist literary theory (stiwanism) to a text (The Purple Violet of Oshaantu) in order to understand the meaning of this text, and in the process advance feminist criticism. The article argues that while feminism’s primary objective is for women and girls to have the same rights and opportunities as men and boys, some feminisms, for example lesbianism and raunchism, are so radical that they obscure the fight against patriarchy. However, stiwanism, a moderate brand of African feminism, has tenets that forcefully challenge patriarchy. The study shows that lesbians reject men altogether, and raunchists, whose modus operandi is demonstrating in skimpy and erotic clothing, bare breasts, and exposed buttocks, alienate themselves from broader society. Stiwanists, on the other hand are not antimale, and their agenda is social transformation including women in Africa. The article concludes by demonstrating that “feminism” in not a dirty word, and recommends the propagation of literature that foregrounds gender issues.