The Gender Discourse in the Philosophy of Yoruba and Akan Societies

Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...), grade: 1, University of Cape Coast (Centre for International Studies), course: African Philosophy, language: English, abstract: The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the gender discourse in African philosophy. The essay is divided into three sections. This essay examines the gender discourse from Yoruba and Akan perspectives using Oyewumi¿s "The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses" and Owusu & Bosiwah¿s "Constructions of Masculinity among the Akan People of Ghana" respectively. The first section explains the key concepts: gender, discourse, philosophy. The second section discusses the debate of gender discourse in African philosophy among the Yoruba and Akan society from the works listed above and the third section examines the importance of gender discourse in African philosophy. African societies enforce the concept of gender especially among the Akan and the Yoruba society in various ways using folklores, proverbs and religious codes. An Yoruba proverb "Owu ti iya gbon lomo n ran" translated as the attitudes of the mother are emulated by her offspring. This proverb is related to conduct or behaviour. In this case, the mother is seen as immoral and ill mannered; and every bad behave child takes after her and summarily belong to her. The father is exonerated as good children belong to him and he is always proud of such children.