Topic > How Society Limits a Woman in Nervous Conditions

In Nervous Conditions, the main character, Tambudzai, feels limited within her family and culture because she is a woman. The people of Rhodesia assert very traditional roles for men and women; women cook and clean, while men go to school and earn money. In this culture, women are not supposed to want an education or a career, they are supposed to get married and be a good housewife. Tambu decides not to respect this lifestyle, the life that her mother and father expect from her. She is eager to leave the farm and live a British life. What she doesn't realize is that she is on the lower end of the spectrum because she is a woman and an African. She is treated unequally within her own society because she is a woman, and she will be treated unequally in British society because she is African. Even if her family allowed her to attend school, what would she be able to achieve with her education? Tsitsi Dangarembga, in Nervous Condition, conveys the idea that the society that introduces opportunities for better education for African women, is the same society that limits the potential of these women. It does this through the British education system in Rhodesia, the patriarchal role of women in Rhodesian culture, the idealization of the British lifestyle, Babamukuru's expendable position in the mission, Maiguru's deep education as well as his limited use of this l Education in Rhodesia and Nyasha's epiphany. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Tambu is very young, but has very mature ambitions for herself. She feels strongly that she does not want to be educated solely in marital duties, especially when a formal education is quite a realistic option for her. The existing education is an English education, run by Catholic missionaries. Schools are expensive and considered prestigious, but the best education is obtained by studying in England. For an ordinary Rhodesian family like Tambu's, the only priority is to educate their children. Although women are accepted in schools, it is not typical for a family to send their daughters to school unless they have the money to do so. In the case of Tambu the resources are not there. His family is in poverty, making school tuition nearly impossible. However, when it comes to your child, education is a necessity. Tambu feels resentful towards her brother because of this fact. Her brother also belittles her and her younger sister, knowing that girls have this predestined place in society. He clarified his opinion by telling Tambu: “Have you ever heard of a girl who was taken away from school? With me it's different. I had to be educated” (Dangarembga 49). Tambu didn't want to accept such a life, caring for a man, as her destiny. Tambu's brother is not her biggest obstacle. His father does not agree with his request to go to school. She expresses her position by saying, “Can you cook books and give them to your husband? Stay home with your mother. Learn to cook and clean. Growing vegetables” (Dangarembga 15). In Rhodesian culture, a child has more value to a family because he will remain a member of the family all his days. The son will take care of his parents in their old age. A daughter, on the other hand, is not as precious. She will marry into another man's family, thereby leaving her own, and will benefit only her husband. From Tambu's father's point of view, there is no reason to educate his daughter because she will no longer be useful to him in the future. This is an unfair and sexist presumption. His father doesn't care about thesuccess and happiness of his daughters as well as his sons? Although he is unable, financially, to provide Tambu with an education, he must not be so condescending at the thought of his daughter wanting to better herself. With no other choice, Tambuè determined to raise the money for her tuition without the support of her family. It's successful. Tambu is getting the education she wanted so badly. He lives with his uncle, Babamukuru, the most admired man in his family. He is well educated and successful. Tambu sees how her family is so prosperous and links this to the fact that they live a predominantly British lifestyle. Baamukuru and his entire family spend a lot of time in England and come back very different. His cousins ​​no longer behave in the old African ways, nor do they speak the language. Almost every aspect of their lives is British, which seems almost divine to Tambu. She illustrates: “Babamukuru was God, so I had reached heaven. I was in danger of becoming an angel, or at least a saint, and forgetting how ordinary human beings existed” (Dangarembga 70). She wanted this lifestyle and all it could offer her. For this reason, he firmly believes that to make progress you need to leave the old ways behind. He does not know that, among the whites of the mission, Babamukuru is considered replaceable. By changing his culture, he is unable to change the color of his skin, which will hold him back as long as he works within English society. Even with all his education, he is unable to achieve equality with them. Tambu is unaware that although she may have the same right to a British education as a woman, she may not have the same right to a respected career as a woman. African among the whites. At the same time, an educated woman in Africa will never reach her full potential. No matter where Tambu decides to be, at least one aspect of her identity will be forbidden to her. This truth is revealed to her after speaking with her aunt Maiguru. Maiguru earns a master's degree while in England, despite the disapproval of her family and husband. She has big dreams for herself, as does Tambu, but she has to put them aside for the sake of her family. He explains his situation to Tambu: “The problem is having to choose between yourself and safety. When I was in England I glimpsed for a while the things I could have been, the things I could have done if-if-if things had been- different. But Babawa Chido, his children and family were there. And does anyone realize, does anyone appreciate, what sacrifices have been made? As for me, no one even thinks about the things I gave up!” (Dangarembga 101-102). After hearing this and perhaps connecting it to her possible future, Tambu feels saddened by Maiguru's losses. The loss of his dreams, his goals, his ambitions, his independence, his self-respect. Tambu can't believe how Maiguru is being deprived of the opportunity to get the most out of herself. At this point, Maiguru has accepted his decisions and everything he sacrificed, which makes things even worse. Tambu knows what he wants and won't let anyone get in his way. Maiguru knows what she wants, she could have had what she wants and she consciously walks away from it because she knows she can't have the best of both worlds. At least Maiguru is still working and earning money, which wouldn't have been an option if he hadn't gotten an education. But that money does not belong to her, it is up to her husband to provide for himself and the family. Perhaps he will seem more useful if his sacrifices are at least recognized and appreciated. Babamukuru does not realize that he has put his wife in the same position he is put in by his family. They depend on him as the most successful member of the family, but, 1988.