GENDER SENSITIZATION THROUGH EDUCATION IN THE NOVELS OF FLORA NWAPA AND CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE (Pages 39-47) by Dr. V. Parvathi* and Ms. M. Lalitha Sridevi** in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Life experiences provide women with more education than that they receive in schools. African women especially, gain wisdom through various informal ways that enhance their skills in all spheres of life. In spite of occupying a peripheral space in the literary letters, early women writers like Flora Nwapa, Efua Sutherland and Grace Ogot presented a different perspective about women in their works by offering solutions to the existing problems on gender roles in political and economic spheres. These observations of society in the narratives of women writers serve as devices in context of time and space and to sensitize readers on the important subjects with regards to gender. Sensitivity to questions of gender has resulted in significant changes in society and hence the works of third generation women writers such as Chimamanda Adichie, Miriam Tlali cannot be read independently of their Nigerian identity. They became the icons of protest against marginalization and exploitation of women. The writers of both generations voice out their opinions that gives expression to their thoughts on how women progress in life despite several forces acting on them. Education- both formal and informal helps them raise their voices and challenge the people in power to empower themselves as self realised individuals. Both Nwapa and Adichie project powerful women in their novels who question the existing power structures and accord a place for women to prove their mettle. Keywords: peripheral space, sensitize readers, gender roles, power structures, marginalization.