Feminism as a tool for social engineering and change in Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s Children of the Eagle (2002)

Abstract

This paper explicates the use of feminism as a tool for social engineering as outlined in Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo’s Children of the Eagle. It examines the propagation of identified feminist tools which results in the female characters coming out of the confines as they transform the stereotypes that surround them into liberating modes of freedom. The postcolonial feminist theory serves to underscore the way the protagonist’s gender and class aided their subjugation, marginalization and oppression. Ten excerpts were purposively sampled from our selected text. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling that is based on the aim of the study. This paper affirms that in order to achieve change, women need to create symbols for the new set of relationship they are seeking to institutionalize in a particular society. To accomplish this change, it is imperative for women to perceive and pursue the possibilities of altering their structural position, to find out the extent to which they are willing to work for changes in laws and other political structures which affect women. Furthermore, it is important for women to work towards establishing an essential feminist agenda that is all embracing. This agenda should encourage women to explore the opportunities that abound in negotiation, dialogue, economic independence, complementarity, self-discovery, female bonding and mentoring for overall growth and development.