_Paper 204_ Paper 206_ The African Literature.pptx

Motherhood has long been shaped by societal expectations rather than personal choice. In The Joys of Motherhood, Nnu Ego's struggles reflect a reality that persists across cultures—women are often valued primarily for their reproductive roles. From forced sterilizations to commercial surrogacy, from menstrual taboos to the pressure to bear sons, the exploitation of women’s reproductive rights remains a global issue. These challenges highlight the urgent need for women to have full autonomy over their own bodies. True empowerment does not come from changing laws alone but from dismantling the deep-rooted structures that limit women’s choices and independence.

1. The Joys of Motherhood & The Commodification of Women’s Reproductive Rights

2. Academic Information Name: Jayshri R. Khachar Enrollment No: 5108230023 Sem: 4 (M.A) Batch: 2023-2025 Paper Name: Paper 206: The African Literature Submitted To: Smt, S.B.gardi , Department of English,M.K.B.U Email id: [email protected]

3. Content Introduction Nnu Ego’s Struggles as a Mother From Nnu Ego to the Present: The Ongoing Struggle for Autonomy Human Egg Farming: A Modern Reality The Ethics of Egg Donation & Illegal Human Egg Farming The Surrogacy Debate in India Son Preference & Dowry Deaths Forced Sterilization in India Menstrual Taboos & Period Poverty The Marriage Age Controversy (2021-22) Conclusion References

4. Hypothesis: Motherhood is not solely a personal experience but a societal tool used to regulate and control women's autonomy, as seen in both historical and contemporary contexts. Research Question: How does Buchi Emecheta’s The Joys of Motherhood critique the societal expectations of women’s reproductive roles, and how do these themes manifest in modern debates on surrogacy, egg donation, and forced sterilization?

5. The Joys of Motherhood – Buchi Emecheta (1979) Theme: Motherhood as sacrifice and burden Main Character: Nnu Ego – a woman whose life revolves around raising children, only to be abandoned in old age. Key Question: Is motherhood a joy, a duty, or societal exploitation? In traditional Nigerian society, a woman’s worth is tied to childbirth, especially male heirs. Nnu Ego sacrifices everything for her children but finds no happiness or reward. Emecheta critiques the romanticized idea of motherhood, showing it as a societal tool that exploits women. The novel questions whether motherhood is fulfilling or merely an imposed obligation that denies women autonomy. (Emecheta)

6. Nnu Ego’s Struggles as a Mother Marriage & Childbearing as a Woman’s Primary Role Nnu Ego’s worth is measured by her ability to bear children. Society pressures women to find identity through motherhood. Economic Burden of Motherhood She sacrifices personal well-being to provide for her children. Financial struggles highlight the cost of raising children in a patriarchal system. Disillusionment: Children Don’t Provide Security Despite her sacrifices, Nnu Ego is abandoned in old age. Challenges the belief that motherhood guarantees future stability. ( Stratton)

7. From Nnu Ego to the Present: The Ongoing Struggle for Autonomy Historically, a woman’s worth was tied to childbearing – In many cultures, motherhood was seen as a duty rather than a choice, reinforcing patriarchal control over women’s bodies. Even today, economic, social, and political systems limit reproductive choices – Women, especially in marginalized communities, face pressure to conform to societal expectations of motherhood. Modern struggles reflect the same control: Egg Donation – Poor women are often exploited, undergoing repeated procedures with long-term health risks. Surrogacy – While offering financial relief, commercial surrogacy often leads to exploitation, with limited legal protections. Forced Sterilization – Government policies have historically targeted marginalized women, coercing them into sterilization under the guise of population control.

8. Human Egg Farming: A Modern Reality What is Human Egg Farming? The process of harvesting and commercializing women’s eggs for reproductive purposes. Often used in fertility treatments, surrogacy, and medical research. Ethical & Health Concerns Risks include hormone treatment side effects, long-term health impacts, and lack of informed consent. Raises concerns about the commercialization of women’s bodies. (Petropanagos) Connection to Nnu Ego’s Story Just as Nnu Ego’s worth was tied to childbirth, modern society still commodifies women’s reproductive abilities. Highlights ongoing struggles where women’s bodies are controlled by external pressures.

9. The Ethics of Egg Donation & Illegal Human Egg Farming 🔹 Egg Donation: A Reproductive Reality Process: Women’s eggs are retrieved for fertility treatments. Ethical Concerns: Exploitation, consent, health risks. Regulation: Indian laws (2021) restrict commercial egg sales. (Petropanagos) 🔹 Illegal Egg Farming Cases India (Tamil Nadu, 2021): A 16-year-old girl was coerced into multiple egg donations for minimal pay. (Chandraprabhu) Ukraine (2022): Reports of illegal surrogacy clinics harvesting eggs without consent. ( Hegarty) Georgia (2025): A criminal network, led by Chinese gangsters, enslaved women for huma n egg ( Singh) 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Nnu Ego’s struggle parallels the commodification of women’s reproductive abilities. Both cases highlight societal control over women’s bodies.

10. The Surrogacy Debate in India 🔹 India’s Commercial Surrogacy Boom (Pre-2021) India was a global hub for commercial surrogacy. Poor women engaged in surrogacy for financial survival. Lack of legal protection led to exploitation. (Pande) 🔹 The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 Bans commercial surrogacy; only altruistic surrogacy is allowed. Intended to prevent exploitation but limits economic opportunities for poor women. ( Government of India) 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Nnu Ego views motherhood as an economic necessity, not a source of joy. Similarly, surrogacy turns motherhood into a financial arrangement rather than an emotional experience.

11. Forced Sterilization in India 🔹 Chhattisgarh Sterilization Deaths (2014) 13 women died due to botched mass sterilization surgeries. Unsafe conditions and contaminated medicines contributed to fatalities. Women were pressured into sterilization due to financial incentives. ( Patel)(Bhardwaj) 🔹 Economic Pressures on Women Poor women paid small sums to undergo high-risk procedures. State-run sterilization camps targeted marginalized communities. 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Like Nnu Ego, these women had little control over their reproductive choices. Motherhood and fertility are shaped by external forces rather than personal agency.

12. Son Preference & Dowry Deaths 🔹 India’s Gender Imbalance Female foeticide and dowry-related violence remain prevalent. Skewed sex ratio due to deep-rooted patriarchal norms. ( Sen) 🔹 Women Pressured to Bear Sons Sons are seen as financial security, while daughters are considered liabilities. Many women face societal and familial pressure to produce male heirs. 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Nnu Ego believes having sons will secure her future, reflecting a mindset still common in India. Women’s worth is often tied to their ability to bear male children, limiting their autonomy.

13. Menstrual Taboos & Period Poverty 🔹 Women Still Face Stigma for Natural Processes Menstruation is considered impure in many cultures. Restrictions on temple entry, food preparation, and social interactions. ( Alhelou) 🔹 Lack of Access to Hygiene Products in Rural India Many women cannot afford sanitary products, leading to health risks. Limited awareness and education worsen the issue. 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Nnu Ego’s struggles mirror how society dictates women’s bodies. Both cases show how biological functions become sources of societal control.

14. The Marriage Age Controversy (2021-22) 🔹 Proposal to Raise Marriage Age from 18 to 21 Government proposed increasing the legal marriage age for women to 21. Aimed at reducing child marriage and improving women’s health and education. ( Agnes) 🔹 Debate: Empowerment vs. Ignoring Deeper Issues Critics argue it does not address root problems like lack of education and economic dependence. Implementation challenges in rural and traditional communities. 🔹 Connection to The Joys of Motherhood Nnu Ego was married off young, limiting her choices and financial independence. Highlights how marriage laws impact women’s autonomy and future prospects.

15. CONCLUSION Motherhood has long been shaped by societal expectations rather than personal choice. In The Joys of Motherhood , Nnu Ego's struggles reflect a reality that persists across cultures—women are often valued primarily for their reproductive roles. From forced sterilizations to commercial surrogacy, from menstrual taboos to the pressure to bear sons, the exploitation of women’s reproductive rights remains a global issue. These challenges highlight the urgent need for women to have full autonomy over their own bodies. True empowerment does not come from changing laws alone but from dismantling the deep-rooted structures that limit women’s choices and independence.

16. References Agnes, Flavia. “Controversy over Age of Consent.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 48, no. 29, 2013, pp. 10–13. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23528498. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025. Alhelou, Nay, et al. “Menstruation, Myopia, and Marginalization: Advancing Menstrual Policies to ‘Keep Girls in School’ at the Risk of Exacerbating Inequalities.” Health and Human Rights, vol. 24, no. 2, 2022, pp. 13–28. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/48718206 . Accessed 1 Mar. 2025. Bhardwaj, Ashutosh. “Chhattisgarh Sterilisation Tragedy: Besides Medical Negligence, Guidelines for Operations Also Violated.” The Indian Express, 12 Nov. 2014, indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/bilaspur-8-women-dead-20-others-in-a-serious-condition/ . Accessed 1 Mar. 2025. Chandraprabhu, Divya. “Tamil Nadu Women Forced to Sell Eggs at Fertility Clinics despite Risks.” Hindustan Times, 14 Aug. 2022, www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/povert y ridden-tamil-nadu-women-forced-to-sell-eggs-at-fertility-clinics-despite-risks-101660499892771.html . Accessed 1 Mar. 2025. Emecheta, Buchi. The Joys of Motherhood. Heinemann, 1979. Government of India. The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. Ministry of Law and Justice, 2021, www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/17046/1/A2021-47.pdf . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

17. References Hegarty, Stephanie, and Eleanor Layhe. “Ukraine: Impossible Choices for Surrogate Mothers and Parents.” BBC News, 22 Mar. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60824936 . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025. Pande, Amrita. Wombs in Labor: Transnational Commercial Surrogacy in India. Columbia UP, 2014. Patel, Priti. “Forced Sterilization of Women as Discrimination.” Public Health Reviews, BioMed Central, 14 July 2017, publichealthreviews.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40985-017-0060-9 . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025. Petropanagos, Angel. “Fertility Preservation Technologies for Women: A Feminist Ethical Analysis.” Western Libraries, 22 May 2013, ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1299/ . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025. Sen, Amartya. “More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing.” The New York Review of Books, vol. 37, no. 20, 20 Dec. 1990. Scribd, www.scribd.com/doc/38186565/SEN-Amartya-More-Than-100-Million-Women-Are-Missing . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025. Singh, Abhinav. “Women Enslaved in Georgia for Human-Egg Harvesting by Chinese Gangsters: Report.” NDTV, 8 Feb. 2025, www.ndtv.com/world-news/women-enslaved-in-georgia-for-human-egg-harvesting-by-chinese-gangsters-report-7665007 . Accessed 2 Mar. 2025. Stratton, Florence. Contemporary African Literature and the Politics of Gender. Routledge, 1994. CCAF Africa, https://ccaf.africa/books/Florence_Stratton_Contemporary_African_Literature.pdf. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

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