Literacy and Dysfunction

 Throughout the years women have worked hard to put behind them the steroetypical steroetypes that come with being a women and roles such as child bearing and male sex toys. In fact, almost every culture as well as race has unfortunately depicted females in this same light, emotional, weak, and uneducated. Mandi Chikombero's Dysfuctional Literacies of Exclusion: An Exploration of the Burdens of Literacy in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Condition, however analyzes a book called "Nervous Conditions" by Tsitsi Dangarembga and gives example of the two different types of literacies in which people may be categorized in. The first being traditional literacy and the second being colonial literacy. Within this novel Mandi Chikombero tries to convey the message that "different literacies have various implications for understanding Black women's struggle for acceptance and inclusion in male-dominated societies". In addition, by analysizing” Nervous Conditions” Chikombero is able to exemplify the many issues that African-American woman faced during this post slavery time period and expose the obscacles presented to them due to their race and the gender inqualities they faced within their own homes.

An example of these central issues is presented when Chikombero refers to Tambu, the main character of Nervous Conditions, and her belief that a colonial education will help her escape from the deprivation and depression that lies within the colonial accepted treatment of women within her community.  Unfortunately she is quickly disappointed when she sees women of higher educational levels such as her aunt, who went to missionary school in England, return back home and achievements be overshadowed by her husband.  Furthermore, Nervous Conditions, like similar African stories, education is seen as alienating, uprooting circumstance that is geared only to the displacement of the colonized from familiar settings.

          After reading this novel I was truly aspired to work in every possible  way to continue my own acquisition towards literarcy, and in the process hopefully continue where my ancestors left off. I know now that without them and their sacrifice, I probably could not claim a spot at Spelman College or anywhere else. Yet fortunately enough it is through their courage and strength that they were able to make it through those tough times and thankfully pave the way for my future. Thus, with these in mind I must make sure not to let stereotypical stereotypes dictate my future or aspirations of future goals but continue on the road to success.