Dysfunctional Literacies of Exclusion

“This business of womanhood is a heavy burden…And these days it is worse, with the poverty of blackness on one side and the weight of womanhood on the other” (p. 16)

       This is a quote instilled in the passage by the author Mandi Chikombero who analyzes a book Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga. This book exemplifies many issues that were facing African-American woman during the time period post slavery. Not only did woman face battles of race outside their homes, they also face the burden of facing gender inequalities inside the home. This information brought me to light to the struggles of women that not only include race. Women during this time period always came second before the man; they were expected to cook, clean, give birth, all while taking care of the household. In some situations women had jobs which added difficulty to their many responsibilities. Men within the household saw the women as second place which gave them reason to fight for their rights and become equal as men.

    

     Chikombero brings up the topic of literacy and the roles it place within society. The author explains two types of illiteracies which include colonial literacy and traditional literacy. The motivations behind the two are the same but they each have a different purpose. Colonial literacy is based on Christianity and therefore if you are colonial literate then you are fully Christian.  Colonial literacy saw no place for colonized Africans as it was only for white colonist. Traditional literacy involves knowing the music and traditions that are entailed within a culture. This type of literacy is important within the community because it provides the roles and duties of a woman during the time period and it provides the foundation for other types literacy to be formed. The different types of literacy are significant because they give insight into how the people of the time period were living and the thought process they used to explain many of their actions.

Works Cited

Chikombero, Mandi. Dysfunctional Literacies of Exclusion. New jersey: Hampton Press, 2005. 147-161. Print.

Dangaremba, T. (1982). Nervous conditions. Washington:Seal Press.Dangaremba, T. (1982). Nervous conditions. Washington:Seal Press.