Male Daughters, Female Husbands by Ifi Amadiume
- 1. Male Daughters, Female Husbands by Ifi Amadiume is a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional gender roles and explores the complexities of gender identity and social structures within the Igbo culture of Nigeria. Through detailed ethnographic research, Amadiume presents a compelling analysis of women's empowerment in a society where patrilineal norms often dictate the status and roles of individuals. The book delves into the phenomenon of 'female husbands,' women who take on the socially recognized role of husbands in their marital arrangements, often marrying other women for various reasons, including economic stability and the continuation of lineage. This intricate examination of gender dynamics showcases how women navigate and manipulate cultural expectations to assert their autonomy and influence within both familial and communal spheres. Amadiume's work stands as a critical intervention in feminist anthropology and gender studies, emphasizing the fluidity of gender and the importance of understanding cultural contexts in discussions about identity, power, and societal organization.
What is the primary focus of Ifi Amadiume's book 'Male Daughters, Female Husbands'?
A) Gender and sex in pre-colonial Igbo society
B) Modern feminist movements in Africa
C) The history of Nigerian independence
D) A biography of a specific Igbo queen
- 2. In the context of the book, what does the term 'female husband' refer to?
A) A man who identifies as a woman
B) The male partner in a same-sex marriage
C) A transgender man in pre-colonial society
D) A woman who marries another woman and takes on a male social role
- 3. What is a 'male daughter' as discussed by Amadiume?
A) A son who is raised as a daughter
B) A mythical figure in Igbo folklore
C) A term for a first-born child
D) A daughter who performs the social and economic roles of a son
- 4. Amadiume's research is based on her study of which specific Igbo community?
A) Aba
B) Nnobi
C) Onitsha
D) Nsukka
- 5. What was the significance of the 'Omu' (women's leader) in Nnobi society?
A) She was subordinate to all male leaders
B) She was a colonial appointment
C) She was a purely ceremonial figurehead
D) She held significant political and economic power
- 6. What does Amadiume argue about the relationship between biological sex and social gender in pre-colonial Nnobi?
A) They were more rigid than in the West
B) They were not necessarily linked
C) They were always perfectly aligned
D) They were determined by astrology
- 7. Amadiume's work is considered a foundational text in which field of study?
A) African feminism / African gender studies
B) Colonial economics
C) Igbo linguistics
D) West African archaeology
- 8. What methodological approach does Amadiume primarily use in her research?
A) Anthropological fieldwork and historical analysis
B) Literary criticism of novels
C) Quantitative statistical analysis
D) Laboratory experiments
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