I will also talk a bit about feminism and how it relates to So Long A Letter.
First of all, I agree with everyone who has said that women and men should not be thought of as being the same. This is like pretending to be "colorblind," which is ridiculous and does more harm than it does help. That said, I am not suggesting that one gender (or race) is better than another and should be treated as such, just that everyone should be treated with the amount of respect and value that they deserve, not based on their gender or race or whatever.
When I first read So Long A Letter, I didn't really like Ramatoulaye. I thought she was kind of pathetic. I read her as being just another woman upset that her husband left her for a younger woman, and someone who couldn't let go until he died. I think that is the only reason she stayed married to him, in hopes that he would one day realize that he loved her and would come back to her. I didn't see this as being feminist at all, or at least not intentionally. Ramatoulaye's feminism seems to come in after her husband dies, when she is reflecting on what has happened. I saw her protest against the idea of polygamy not as her taking a feminist or anti-Islamic stand, but her being mad that her husband was allowed to do what he did, and get away with it.
I did feel some pity for Ramatoulaye, because it is sad that she really loved and had 12 children with a man who just deserted her for their daughter's friend. But I felt that for the "first feminist book out of Africa," it didn't send a great message of how a strong woman handles things, at least to the Western reader. To me, Ramatoulaye was just a woman who wanted love, and that is why she didn't marry again- she didn't love anyone else who offered their hand to her.
I do understand why this book is seen as feminist. I think it is important that as Ramatoulaye is writing this letter, she is taking a stand against the polygamous marriage structure of her society. Since this happens to also be a feminist issue, she does a good job of at least voicing some concerns women should have that are living in that kind of a society. And we do get some hope of a better future through Ramatoulaye's two eldest daughters, who are married to or are marrying the men they love on their terms.
First of all, I agree with everyone who has said that women and men should not be thought of as being the same. This is like pretending to be "colorblind," which is ridiculous and does more harm than it does help. That said, I am not suggesting that one gender (or race) is better than another and should be treated as such, just that everyone should be treated with the amount of respect and value that they deserve, not based on their gender or race or whatever.
When I first read So Long A Letter, I didn't really like Ramatoulaye. I thought she was kind of pathetic. I read her as being just another woman upset that her husband left her for a younger woman, and someone who couldn't let go until he died. I think that is the only reason she stayed married to him, in hopes that he would one day realize that he loved her and would come back to her. I didn't see this as being feminist at all, or at least not intentionally. Ramatoulaye's feminism seems to come in after her husband dies, when she is reflecting on what has happened. I saw her protest against the idea of polygamy not as her taking a feminist or anti-Islamic stand, but her being mad that her husband was allowed to do what he did, and get away with it.
I did feel some pity for Ramatoulaye, because it is sad that she really loved and had 12 children with a man who just deserted her for their daughter's friend. But I felt that for the "first feminist book out of Africa," it didn't send a great message of how a strong woman handles things, at least to the Western reader. To me, Ramatoulaye was just a woman who wanted love, and that is why she didn't marry again- she didn't love anyone else who offered their hand to her.
I do understand why this book is seen as feminist. I think it is important that as Ramatoulaye is writing this letter, she is taking a stand against the polygamous marriage structure of her society. Since this happens to also be a feminist issue, she does a good job of at least voicing some concerns women should have that are living in that kind of a society. And we do get some hope of a better future through Ramatoulaye's two eldest daughters, who are married to or are marrying the men they love on their terms.
posted by Kate Merwald at 9:03 PM
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