1. In the stories of Faith (African Women Writing Resistance) and Amina (Nairobi Half Life) and Maisha (Say You’re One of Them) we see the topic of female sexuality. What evidence do we see of each of these women resisting attempts to control their sexuality?
Female sexuality is often undermined and overlooked in many African cultures. These cultures disallow any semblance of promiscuity and disdain women who embrace their sexuality. In light of these overwhelming cultural affirmations, there are however women in these cultures who go against the grain and reject these holdings. They instead look at their sexuality, specifically through prostitution as a means of empowerment. This is exemplified through the depictions of Faith, Amina, and Maisha, all African women who, through prostitution, are able to feel free. Faith, a young, ambitious college woman is able to manipulate men and get what she wants through sex. Once Faith goes to college she begins to dress scandalously and associate with her roommate who uses older men for money. Faith quickly adjusts to her roommate’s lifestyle and meets her first “sugar daddy”. The Story of Faith states how: “when Chris gave her gifts and money it's not you like being paid off. After all, he was her… boyfriend. Of sorts.” Faith did not feel as though she were exchanging sex for money because she enjoyed being with him, she was aware that was in fact what she was doing but it didn’t feel wrong because it was her decision to do so. Faith was raised by parents who preached abstinence before marriage and she knew her current actions did not align with an acceptable standard of living in her culture but the freedom she felt through these exchanges outweighed rebelling against her family’s traditions. She felt no need to abstain from sex and squander her sexuality because through sex she could achieve the lifestyle she always wanted. The first time Faith slept with a random man, the narrator expresses that “afterward Faith could not say that she had shared the pleasure of it, but then it had been well understood in advance that her share of gratification from the deal was financial first and foremost.” For Faith her sex with men was strictly for financial purposes so she felt no need to feel desexualized. She found comfort in the idea that her body could be used for gifts and money. Through this discovery she felt in control of this man and their situation. She knew what she wanted out of these arrangements and through that she felt empowerment. Since she had a reason for her sexual actions she had nothing that would resist her …show more content…
She has a very similar mentality to Faith, but Amina views prostitution as a bridge to reach her ultimate goal, to eventually become a beautician. Amina views prostitution as just a job, and therefore, does not view her occupation as degrading. It allows her to use her body in the way that she wants and with a purpose. Her family disowned her when Amina decided to become a prostitute, but she did not let that discourage her. She does not let the views of society stop her from using her body in the way that she wants. Amina wants to create a future for herself, and prostitution awards her with the freedom to do
Female sexuality is often undermined and overlooked in many African cultures. These cultures disallow any semblance of promiscuity and disdain women who embrace their sexuality. In light of these overwhelming cultural affirmations, there are however women in these cultures who go against the grain and reject these holdings. They instead look at their sexuality, specifically through prostitution as a means of empowerment. This is exemplified through the depictions of Faith, Amina, and Maisha, all African women who, through prostitution, are able to feel free. Faith, a young, ambitious college woman is able to manipulate men and get what she wants through sex. Once Faith goes to college she begins to dress scandalously and associate with her roommate who uses older men for money. Faith quickly adjusts to her roommate’s lifestyle and meets her first “sugar daddy”. The Story of Faith states how: “when Chris gave her gifts and money it's not you like being paid off. After all, he was her… boyfriend. Of sorts.” Faith did not feel as though she were exchanging sex for money because she enjoyed being with him, she was aware that was in fact what she was doing but it didn’t feel wrong because it was her decision to do so. Faith was raised by parents who preached abstinence before marriage and she knew her current actions did not align with an acceptable standard of living in her culture but the freedom she felt through these exchanges outweighed rebelling against her family’s traditions. She felt no need to abstain from sex and squander her sexuality because through sex she could achieve the lifestyle she always wanted. The first time Faith slept with a random man, the narrator expresses that “afterward Faith could not say that she had shared the pleasure of it, but then it had been well understood in advance that her share of gratification from the deal was financial first and foremost.” For Faith her sex with men was strictly for financial purposes so she felt no need to feel desexualized. She found comfort in the idea that her body could be used for gifts and money. Through this discovery she felt in control of this man and their situation. She knew what she wanted out of these arrangements and through that she felt empowerment. Since she had a reason for her sexual actions she had nothing that would resist her …show more content…
She has a very similar mentality to Faith, but Amina views prostitution as a bridge to reach her ultimate goal, to eventually become a beautician. Amina views prostitution as just a job, and therefore, does not view her occupation as degrading. It allows her to use her body in the way that she wants and with a purpose. Her family disowned her when Amina decided to become a prostitute, but she did not let that discourage her. She does not let the views of society stop her from using her body in the way that she wants. Amina wants to create a future for herself, and prostitution awards her with the freedom to do