Migration and female exploitation in two select novels by African women

Abstract

As debates on feminism, gender consciousness and human rights continually dominate discussions of women writers globally, it is  generally upheld by feminists that the political, socio-cultural, economic and religious discrimination that stifles women‟s growth are as a  result of stringent repressive patriarchal structures. As such, the feminist angst is targeted at pulling down chauvinistic walls for the  emancipation of the women folk. However, true as this may be, this paper attempts a deconstructive re-reading of Akachi Ezeigbo‟s  Trafficked and Chika Unigwe‟s On Black Sisters’ Street to argue that violence, injustice, slavery and brutality are also being meted out by  women against their fellow women. Thus, using the novels as an expose of this contemporary malaise, the paper critically interrogates  the violence that surrounds migration and the trafficking of women, particularly, the girl child. This paper is vehemently critical of the  actions of their „madams‟ who, despite being in positions of privilege and power, are complicit actors in the truncation of the destinies of  their fellow women. This paper also analyses the authors‟ use of language and imagery to explore the issues of migration and   exploitation in their respective novels.