SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE GIRL CHILD: A READING OF “FACELESS” BY AMMA DARKO AND CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE GIRL CHILD: A READING OF “FACELESS” BY AMMA DARKO AND CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study
• Many African female writers like Nwapa (1966), Emecheta (1981), Dangaremgba (1988), Mugo (1988), and Aidoo (1977) among others in narratives attempt to recast women in more positive roles away from their marginal position(s). As a result, their texts are described by Nfah-Abbenyi (1997) as ―spaces of strength within and between which they fluctuate”. Concurring,  D‘Almeida  (1994)  considers writing by women as a  ―weapon to destroy the ideas that perpetuate subjugation and inequality”. Many literary scholars on African literature such as Stratton (1994), Steady (1998), Ogundipe- Leslie (1987), Emenyonu (2004), and Oyeronke (2009) agree that works by African women writers are rarely discussed and seldom accorded space in canon formation thus making much of the African literature appear male-centered. This makes Leek (1999) argue that African women have been indoctrinated to envision the world from a patriarchal

• It is not surprising therefore, that African scholars have now begun to include the concepts of sex, gender, and violence in gender studies to understand how they play out in gender relations (Lindsay & Miescher 2003:1-3). Consequently, in the analyses of women-authored work, amongst other themes, there is the need to explore gender-based violence and its portraiture in these works. This is because gender-based violence is a serious problem in many societies today and a new area of investigation in literary criticism. This study, therefore, interrogates the depiction of gender-based violence in the Nigerian novel concerning fiction by women in general and Adichie‘s novels in particular and the role of gender in the propagation of violence. The study explores how the gender of a person contributes to inter /intra-gender violence in the selected novels.
• Gender issues in every discourse are often divisive because of their sensitive nature and because the term ‗gender‘ is often used interchangeably with ‗sex‘.There is an apparent dichotomy between both terms and scholars have since established the difference between them. While the term sex is the ―biological characteristic that defines humans as female or male‖, gender is the  ―economic, political, and cultural attributes and opportunity associated with being male or female‖ (USAID, 2007). Gender is therefore socially constructed roles, behaviors activities, and features that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. While sex and its associated biological functions are programmed genetically, gender roles and the

 

• power relations they reflect are a social construct that varies across cultures and through time, and thus are open to change. While sex refers to the anatomical difference between man and woman, in contrast,  gender refers to the  ―social aspect of differences and hierarchies between males and female‖ (John Macionis & Ken Plummer, 2005:309).
• Thus, gender-based violence is violence that is directed against a person based on gender. I, therefore,e constitute a breach of the fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, and equality between women and men. Gender-based violence occurs in many parts of the world, within a home or wider community in general and it affects women and girls disproportionately (Bloom 2008:p.14). Although there are different types of violence like punching, bullying physical fights, etc, gender-based violence includes domestic violence, rape, sexual violence during conflict, harmful customary or traditional practices such as forced marriages, genital mutilation

 

However, child sexual abuse in Nigeria is an offense under several sections of chapter 21 of the country’s criminal code. The age of consent is 18 (Ezeamalu, 2015). UNICEF reported in 2015 that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18 (UNICEF, 2015). According to a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, over 31.4 percent of girls there said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind (Akinlusi, Rabiu, Olawepo, Adewunmi, Ottun, and Akinola, 2015). The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development reported that 1,200 girls had been raped in 2012 in Rivers, a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria (Ohayi, 2014). According to UNICEF, six out of ten children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical,l or sexual abuse before the age of 18, with half experiencing physical violence (UNICEF, 2015).

On the other hand child sexual abuse or child molestation can be defined as a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. The forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring the child to engage in sexual activities such as child pornography and Commercial sexual exploitation regardless of the outcome. Child sexual abuse can occur in various settings such as as formal institutions, at home, parks, pathways among others. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that child marriage is the most prevalent form of sexual abuse of girls. It is a global issue and affects both genders. The impact of child sexual abuse refers to the effect or results of sexual offenses. The target group is the youth aged 16-30 years. (Woody 2012.).The impact of child sexual abuse among children has resulted in various problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, self-harm, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and eating and sleeping disorders among others (Taylor, 2014). The victimized individuals are usually deeply wounded emotionally after an assault. Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a crime against children. It is largely underreported and commonly goes unpunished in our society as it is commonly perpetrated by close ones including family relations. Victims are left with the adverse sequelae associated with it sometimes for life.

As part of efforts to curb the increasing cases of sexual and other child abuse, it is necessary to adopt Sthearee Kids Awareness Program for teaching safe and unsafe touches to children in the state, making it child-friendly, developmentally appropriate, providing clear and positive messages about setting boundaries assertively, and generally teaches children without giving explicit information or scary stories, or even using the term “sexual abuse”. Children who are taught about preventing sexual abuse are more likely than others to tell a trusted adult if they have or are currently experiencing sexual abuse.

1.2     Statement of the problem

 

Picking from Faceless by Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun and with what is going on in our society; sexual abuse is everywhere – in schools, homes,s and communities. It occurs across all socio-economic levels, with 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys falling victim before the age of 18. However, only 3% – 5% of those cases are reported in Nigeria. Worse, is that children especially girl children do not generally know who to turn to when they are at risk or when they experienced abuse.

Sexual violence is a gross violation of children’s rights that occurs in every country in the world. In Nigeria, while there is a child’s rights act, domestication has been an issue with many states refusing to enforce the law. However, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, surveyed in 2017 and maintained that abuse against children is prevalent across the 36 states of the country. Edeh Suzan added that the “survey of UNICEF also noted that one in four girls and one in 10 boys experience sexual violence, while one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence by a parent, caregiver or adult relative. For instance, Lagos State alone recurrently recorded more than 4,035 cases of sexual and child abuse. Out of 4,035 cases, the government handled only a total of 192 cases comprising 89 violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, six attempted rape, 10 child neglect, t, and seven child abuse cases. Ninety-two cases are currently being heard in court (Edeh, 2017).

In a bid to solve the problem of child abuse, the government stated in Child’s Right Act (2006) that, it is the responsibility of the state to take care of the children where the immediate parents fail to do so. It is also seen that the provision of basic amenities for the welfare of the child is also the responsibility of the state. These amenities are conceived in the area of health, education, recreation,n,n and legal services to ensure the optimal growth and development of children. Despite all these opportunities/ promised by the government, there is still a great preponderance of child sexual abuse. Teenagers are still maltreated, battered, neglected, trafficked, exploited, and denied opportunities to attend access quality education and health care. This exposes them to teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, depression n, etc. Hence the need for this study.

 

1.3     Objectives of the study

The main objective of this study is to examine sexual abuse and the girl child: a reading of “faceless” by Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun

The specific objectives of this study are:

1. To analyze sexual abuse and the girl-child aspect of the novel faceless by Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun
2. To describe the detestable environment in faceless by Amma Dako
3. To examine the effect of Sexual abuse among girl child
4. To determine factors that aid sexual abuse
5. To recommend ways of caring for the victims of sexual abuse.

 

1.4     Research questions

1. To what extent would sexual abuse and the girl-child aspeof the e  novel faceless by Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun be analyzed?
2. What is the detestable environment in faceless by Amma Dako?
3. What is the effect of sexual abuse on girl children?
4. What are the factors that aid sexual abuse?
5. What are ways of caring for the victims of sexual abuse?

 

1.5     Research methodology

 

This research is mainly empirical, using the conventional approach as the framework for our data analysis. The study of sexual abuse is given apt attention in our analysis. Our analysis, though solely drawn from Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun: Faceless.

 

1.6     Significance of the study

 

The findings of this study will be of benefit to the following group of people: parents/caregiverpolicymakersegovernmentsme,n,t, and society at large. The findings of this study may enable parents to understand the effect of f  a positichange dining behaviFindingsgsg of the study may also assist the policy makers/government to enact and enforce laws that promote and protect trightsght and well-being of every child to their rights in the families and community.

The study’s findings may be used to create awareness and equip parents, caregivers, and guidance. It will also help them to see the need for proper child care to avoid outliving disasters. The findings of this study may also help society to know the effects and consequences of sexual abuse on child development and adolescents’ health.

 

1.7     Scope and limitations of the study 

This study is to discuss sexual abuse and the girl-child analysis of the novel faceless by Amma Darko and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun. Due to limited funds and time, this research has faced many problems and limitations. The major problem acting as a limitation was due to financial constraints, the scope and size of this study could not be exceeded

 

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