Characterization and the Construction of Gender Identity in John Habwe’s Maumbile si Huja.

Abstract

This paper analyzes and evaluates characterization and its impact on gender identity in John Habwe’s novella Maumbile si Huja .(1995). The relationship between women and men in literature continues to draw increasing interest and concern to literary artists, researchers and scholars. Gender studies in literary studies are continuously being accepted as an area of academic research as in the other disciplines. ‘Gender’ is an all - round term referring to the relations between women and men that are determined by social interactions. This is as opposed to sex which is determined by biological make - up or nature and is r arely alterable . R oles and functions that women and men perform are mostly inculcated in them through the socialization process. Being a social construct, the concept of gender has to be used cautiously. Oyewumi (1997 :10 ) is of the view that gender being a “social construction then we must examine the various cultural/architectural sites where it was constructed.’’ She argues further that, the different sites in which gender is constructed is affected by the various interested parties which were in the firs t place, part of that construction............