Gender Roles in Things Fall Apart

Throughout history, humans have been generalized based on a group and have been made
to cater toward a stereotype. Especially common has been the division between man and woman.
Humans have repeatedly held the idea that men are to do strenuous labor while women are
occupied with housework. This trend can even be seen today with 84% of men performing blue
collar work and 67% of women caring for the home and children (business.time.com). Although
these generalizations have their roots in basic biological differences, they have become counter
productive as our societies modernize. In Things Fall Apart, the use of strict gender roles in Ibo
society limits freedom, dehumanizes people, and creates inequality. Achebe emphasizes these
downfalls throughout the book in order to suggest a rethink of the gender boundaries.
The utilization of gender roles limits the freedoms of men and women in Ibo society. In
Things Fall Apart, women are constantly restricted from activities, practices and even certain
movements. When Ezinma, the daughter of Okonkwo's, places her legs improperly, Okonkwo
barks, Sit like a woman! Okonkwo shouted at her (44). Even though it may seem very petty,
this depicts the extent of control that is placed over women because they are instructed to be
docile. Women are restricted in almost all facets of life and at the extreme, they cannot even
choose how to sit. Achebe is showing his audience how these customs are placing shackles on
the freedoms of Ibo women and how they should be altered for real women.
Men also face restriction in Umuofia, primarily in their inability to display any feminine
traits or exhibit such qualities. This is evident when Nwoye faces a dilemma between his dads
expectations and his true self, That was the kind of story Nwoye loved [a story of compassion].
But he now knew they were for foolish women and children, and he knew his father wanted him
to be a man (54). Okonkwo epitomizes the pressure men face to grow up masculine. Nwoye

wants to be himself, a compassionate and sympathetic young man, but the stereotype of men in
Umuofia holds him back. Once again Achebe is emphasizing the need to change the gender roles
that diminish the liberties of all people. Men are being restricted from being who they truly are
and women are being restrained from doing what they please all because of rigid gender roles; in
addition they are also being dehumanized.
Gender roles dehumanize the Ibo people, and although both men and women face
dehumanization, in Things Fall Apart, women are the primary victims. When a group of men
gather for a meeting, Okonkwo singles one man out for being lesser than the others, Without
looking at the man Okonkwo had said: This meeting is for men. The man who had contradicted
him had no titles. That is why Okonkwo called him a woman. He knew how to kill a mans
spirit (26). Principally, women are not even attending this important meeting because of the fact
that leading and making decisions is not part of their gender role. Secondarily, when Okonkwo
disses the other man he implies that women are people with no titles. This means that women
have no opportunity of attaining such a status as they should only be subjected to menial house
labor and child rearing. Although both of these occupations are very important, in Umuofian
society, they are deemed frivolous as they are the gender roles of women. Furthermore, young
women in Umuofia have even less of a chance to forge their own destiny because of their gender
determined paths. This is seen when Okonkwo thinks to himself, With two beautiful grown-up
daughters, his return to Umuofia would attract considerable attention (173). While men have the
ability to be independent, to make a name for themselves or create their own future, women are
forced to be seen as brides. The gender roles emphasize their need to be pretty for other men.
This type activity paints women as the subjects of other men, as wives and daughters instead of
as women. Achebe uses this Umuofian perception of women to underline the importance in

changing the way men see, respect and relate to women. The strict gender roles in place in Ibo
culture dehumanize women as objects of other men and as people who have no opportunity for
success or greatness.
The implementation of draconian gender roles also creates inequality between the
genders. It is when women attempt to follow their own path that Okonkwo and other men
intervene in ways such as yelling, Do what you are told, woman, Okonkwo thundered, and
stammered. When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia? (14). Women do not even
have the power to do anything but what their husbands mandate. As women are meant to be seen
as submissive, this gives men the opportunity to control them. The men then exercise their
masculinity and limit women's liberty, henceforth creating inequality. However, men do not
just resort to ordering women around in Umuofian society. When Okonkwos second wife acted
above her jurisdiction he, Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left
her and her only daughter weeping (38). As seen, men have the ability to beat women simply
for disagreeing or failing to comply with their wishes. These atrocities happen as a result of the
of men occupying a strong and masculine gender role while women are left to be obedient and
passive. Women are then subject to the orders of men and the physical violence that independent
actions may bring. This type of victimhood that women experience under men, due to strict
gender roles, creates disparity in society. The underlying message hinted at by Achebes
depiction of Ibo men in control is to remove traditional gender roles in order to restore a balance
of power.
Although genders are different and each excel at different tasks, women and men alike
suffer from the negative byproducts of harboring strict gender roles. Women are seen as
submissive and passive people which limits their freedom to choose and to be independent. Men

are destined to be the strong and violent and are rejected from society when they exhibit
feminine traits. In Umuofia, a power dynamic draws the line between man and woman. Women
are forced out of councils and positions of power and forced into a bride life where their
appearance determines their value. It is also a commonplace for women to be beaten by their
male counterpart with the husband suffering no repercussions. All of these inequalities, the lack
of freedom and the dehumanization of people, stem from the use of strict gender roles. It is these
atrocities that are depicted by Achebe that cause a re-evaluation of traditional gender roles to blur
the line between what it means to be a man and woman.

Works Cited
Tennery, Amy. "More Women Are In the Workforce -- So Why Are They Still Doing So Many
Chores?" Business Money. Time. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://business.time.com/2012/06/28/morewomen-are-in-the-workforce-so-why-are-we-still-doing-so-many-chores/>.