Representations of Nigerian motherhood: patriarchy, resistance, and the deconstruction of the maternal ideal in Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood

Abstract

This article examines the multifaceted ways patriarchy structures the lived experiences of Nigerian mothers through the intersecting spheres of religion, society, and education, using Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood as a central literary lens. Grounded in feminist and postcolonial theoretical frameworks, the study analyzes how patriarchal norms dictate maternal expectations, moral authority, and gendered responsibilities, positioning motherhood as both a site of cultural value and profound vulnerability. Through the character of Nnu Ego, Emecheta exposes how religious traditions reinforce prescribed femininity, how societal expectations naturalize women’s sacrifices as markers of virtue, and how limited access to formal education perpetuates women’s economic and emotional dependency. The article argues that The Joys of Motherhood not only critiques the structural mechanisms that sustain patriarchal power but also illuminates the emotional and material toll inflicted on mothers who strive to fulfill idealized roles within an inequitable system. By foregrounding these dynamics, the study contributes to broader discussions on gender, motherhood, and social transformation in nigerian literary and cultural studies.