Does rough weather choose men over women? Does the sun…
““Does rough weather choose men over women? Does the sun beat on men, leaving women nice and cool?' Nyawira asked rather sharply. 'Women bear the brunt of poverty. What choices does a woman have in life, especially in times of misery? She can marry or live with a man. She can bear children and bring them up, and be abused by her man. Have you read Buchi Emecheta of Nigeria, Joys of Motherhood? Tsitsi Dangarembga of Zimbabwe, say, Nervous Conditions? Miriama Ba of Senegal, So Long A Letter? Three women from different parts of Africa, giving words to similar thoughts about the condition of women in Africa.' 'I am not much of a reader of fiction,' Kamiti said. 'Especially novels by African women. In India such books are hard to find.' 'Surely even in India there are women writers? Indian women writers?' Nyawira pressed. 'Arundhati Roy, for instance, The God of Small Things? Meena Alexander, Fault Lines? Susie Tharu. Read Women Writing in India. Or her other book, We Were Making History, about women in the struggle!' 'I have sampled the epics of Indian literature,' Kamiti said, trying to redeem himself. 'Mahabharata, Ramayana, and mostly Bhagavad Gita. There are a few others, what they call Purana, Rig-Veda, Upanishads … Not that I read everything, but …' 'I am sure that those epics and Puranas, even the Gita, were all written by men,' Nyawira said. 'The same men who invented the caste system. When will you learn to listen to the voices of women?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker highlights gendered oppression in Africa and critiques the male-dominated literary canon, urging attention to women's voices across cultures.
In simple terms: Women face systemic hardship; male narratives dominate literature.
Key Takeaway
Seek and amplify women’s stories.
Themes
gender inequality
literature
colonialism
intersectionality
Mood
frustrated
hopeful
Type
critical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic discussion
- activism
- reading groups
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
patriarchy
representation
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we broaden curricula to include African women writers?
- What barriers prevent women’s literature from reaching wider audiences?
A Different Perspective
Male-authored texts often marginalize women's experiences.