International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Intrafemale Civility: Sisterhood in Ellen Sirleaf’s “This Child Will Be Great”
Joseph Olita Omekede, Dr. Joseph Musungu*, Dr. Felix Orina
Department of English, Literature, Journalism and Mass Communication, Kibabii University, Kenya
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: This paper interrogates sisterhood in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s text “This Child Will be Great” (2008). Because of the desire to continue othering the female gender, the phrase “Women are their own worst enemies” found footing in human relations, this has called for a response from women to this negation of them. The objective in the paper is to highlight women supporting women in the text under study. Looking at Sisterhood at the family, friendship and mass action levels, this study argues that the idea and practice of sisterhood, understood as political, social and economic solidarity amongst women, enhances their capacity to promote social transformation in societies. The main source of the primary data is the selected text and it involves the close reading of the text and eventual analysis of women sorority. The data collected has been analysed and evaluated within the text in relation to sisterhood. One of the findings of this paper is that autobiographical works by African women propound sisterhood as it is a major ingredient in women’s quest to their preferred feminist discourse and subversion of patriarchy. This paper concludes that women have realized the strength in their unity and thus the need to work together in a society that has otherwise relegated them based on their gender. Just like a mother opening her arms to embrace her child, this research is crucial as it serves as a rallying call to women to hold each others hand in the quest for women empowerment in the society
Key words: othering, sisterhood, feminist discourse, sorority.
I. INTRODUCTION.
The African continent has had contestations of gender for a long time where men and women are treated differently. During this period, the prominence accorded to patriarchy has given men all the limelight while relegating women to the fringes of human existence. Women appear to have become impostors in a male dominated world. This scenario has send women back to the drawing board where they have had to consider their options so that their voices can be heard. One of the major steps taken towards this front is embracing the aspects of women working together and supporting each other in their joint and individual endeavors leading to the birth of sisterhood. Sisterhood is the feeling of shared interests and support among women; it serves to remind women that their potential is not limited by their gender (Smith and Julia 2001). Women of the 21st century have shown major shift towards helping each other through economic empowerment for example self help groups, social empowerment in times of relationship breakups, divorces, loss of employment, financial crises, illnesses and political empowerment in cases where they vie for elective positions.