the position of women in the Ibo society in the light of Things fall apart.
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Women were responsible for most everything but garnered little respect from their husbands. The first wife always comes "first" in the home, and the other wives are expected to defer to her in all things or risk punishment.
Women were responsible for painting the houses of the egwugwu (Page 84), but they also play the role of priestess in the culture's religion....... the fact that women perform this role would lead us to believe that women are treated with reverance in certain areas. Unfortunately, we can easily flip the coin as it was the norm for husbands to beat their wives........ a double sided coin so to speak.
When Okonkwo is exiled, we see another side of a woman's position....... that of a mother;
"It's true that a child belong to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme" (Page 134).
Other than what I've stated above, women take on many roles in the community; they are responsible for weeding the yam crops....... the most important agricultural job, and they are responsible for educating and raising their children.
Things Fall Apart