Exploring feminist consciousness in The color Purple, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu and Purple Hibiscus

Abstract

This thesis explores feminist consciousness in three black female writers’ works: Alice Walker's The Color Purple (1982), Neshani Andreas' The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001), and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus (2013). This is a qualitative, desktop study grounded on the radical feminist theoretical framework, whose main argument is that the main cause of female oppression is patriarchy, and hence the female characters in the select texts challenge patriarchy in an attempt to regain their voice and identity. The aim of this research is to enable the reader to understand the impact that patriarchy has on women in male-dominated societies, and the manner and context in which the select black female writers have expressed this concern. The argument is that the Walker, Andreas and Adichie negotiate spaces for women through their select works, which conscientise women of their oppression so that they can unite, subvert patriarchy, and become emancipated in all aspects of society. The study also establishes that the select texts’ reference to the purple colour represents women’s strength and resilience, freedom and equality.