essay3

Running Head: WOMEN IN SOCIETY 1

WOMEN IN SOCIETY 2

Women in society

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Introduction

Adua by Igiaba Scego novel centers mostly on Adua, the main character. She underwent discrimination and harassment in Somalia before finding a permanent home in Italy. Based on Adua statement, most of the suffering she experienced in Somalia resulted from her relative, who seem to be her friends. Adua's character and identity, and appellation are monitored by male figures, including her father, Zoppe and her husband Nicknamed "Titanic." The author of the novel close examines the relationship between Adua and various men at the beginning. Who consistently provide the dichotomy by which the story of Adua evolves. Society in Somalia subject women to sexual abuse, early marriages and social humiliation. However, in the novel, Adua seems to talk her mind and act as a role model to vulnerable and subject to primitive social practices.

Background

At the begging of the novel's chapters, Adua is left with most of the family responsibility after her father's death (Gianzi & Marchetti, 2014). Adua had roughly spent many years in Somalia, where she seemed to be uncomfortable. Over the thirty years, she had spent in Somalia, she is wondering where she will return to her motherland country.

Thesis statement

Throughout the novel, women have been subjected to harassment by their counterpart men, where they are underrepresented, repressed and due to their gender role, they are viewed by society as the minority group. Due to such reasons, women underwent sexual abuse, early marriages and painful procedures. Women can break the vicious believes that for years have destroyed their characters in society, just like Adua was progressive and proactively managed to break many stereotypical standards.

Body paragraph 1

The topic sentence is struggling for identity.

Adua is confused about which place to call home, having experienced both lives in Italy and Somalia. Most of the Adua's friends have repatriated to Somalia like Lul. But for Adua he still confused and did not know where to put strategies to return to Rome (Berg, Denison, & Fretheim, 2010). The main reason Adua is not comfortable in Somalia is because of their strained relationship with her family. She enjoys life in Rome, mainly seagulls during summer and Bernini's elephant in the Piazza. Adua is much connected to the African elephant since, according to her, it emanates from the Indian Ocean. Lack of faithful companionship and escape strangers that point figures at her, he regularly visits Piazza Della Minerva to find comfort from little marble elephant. At the age of seventeen, Adua decided to flee to Somalia together with her overbearing father. She had to survive under harsh and unwelcoming conditions for decades in a foreign country. One of the main disgusting experiences Adua underwent was forced genital mutilation.

Body paragraph 2

The topic state is “Adua is not comfortable in Somalia since she lack a true companionship from her father and the husband.”

When Adua introduced herself as Habiba to her teacher, she was reprimanded by her father. The father indicated that the name was common among the prostitutes, filthy and dirty (Scego pg, 41). Right from the beginning of the novel, Adua has a negative perception of men since they seem humiliating to women. For instance, through her statement, Adua has little regard for men, notably when she indicated that her father was the one who brought her into the world by impregnating her mother.

Adua also describes her husband, Titanic as a boy she married. From her statement, she does not even know why she got married. Adua did not like the attitude of her husband since he had risked drowning to go to Somalia. Adua seems disconnected from her husband since many failures they have undergone together, making her deflect a myriad of disappointments. Initially, before Zoppe, Adua had a father name papa and a mother name mama. Asha was the actual name of her mama, and papa was name Rash. When Zoppe first came to claim Rash's family, Adua was the first kid to resist. Since Zoppe has become a dictator by forcing Adua not to introduce herself by the name Habiba, Adua desires and plan to escape humiliating life and looks for a better life to settle.

Body paragraph 3

The topic statement is freedom.

The main reason that kept Adua to remain aggressive in bettering her life and escape from men cruelty was a desire for freedom. I wanted to dream, dance and fly. I wanted to escape." According to Adua, Italy was everything to her life. Italy embraces passion, holds hand and was a country good in kisses. Adua dream of a place where uninhibited aesthetic pressures, romantic idealism and taboo on sex and are not dimmed or censored.

However, her ideology on the perfect life found in Italy led to her reckless stardom. Adua's director named Arturo and his wife, known as Sissi, forced Adua to dress in Somalia culture. She was forced to dress in traditional Somali clothing. Under Talking-To, I noted Zoppe could criticize every step taken by her daughter. The father also contributed considerably in ensuring Adua underwent genitor mutilation. The novel indicated the pain for genital mutilation was just for a moment; however, its benefit was long-lasting. This was the statement that was the most hurting to Adua after she forcefully underwent genital mutilation. “Thanks be to God. The pain will pass. The pain is Momentary, there as the joy of this liberation, Adua, endures.”

Body paragraph 4

The topic is success for struggle.

Although the novel indicated that Adua is a symbol for a suppressed woman, she appears strong towards the end of the book by various men. Ultimately, Adua is a product of her homeland and time. She is a strong woman due to her ability to persevere pain and humiliation in a foreign country. Asha was a role model to many women when she was alive, and she against all the humiliation women undergo due to the primitive taboo men embrace towards women.

Although Adua was unable to resist some of the humiliation and barbaric taboos in Somalia, she ready to protect her children from genital mutilation. "No one will touch my daughter, no one will infibulate her” (Scego, Pg 85). Adua will follow the footprint of her mother in protecting women and particularly young girls, in society. Adua is aggressive in ensuring her daughter will get the best and quality education and ensure they are married by the best men when the best time comes.

Conclusion

All the main stakeholders have the responsibility to stop taboos and believes that destroy the character of a woman in any society. The main notion men have is that FGM is the ideal channel to prepare young girls for adulthood (Rand, 2020). Adua has been subjected to forced FGM out of her will, which affected her physically and psychologically. FGM, according to the book, has no health benefits and therefore should be abolished. Women like Adua who have undergone forced FGM are responsible for protecting young girls and enlightening them on its psychological and health dangers.

References

Berg, R. C., Denison, E. M. L., & Fretheim, A. (2010). Psychological, social and sexual consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a systematic review of quantitative studies. Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services.

Gianzi, B., & Marchetti, G. (2014). La riconciliazione simbolica in “Adua” di Igiaba Scego (Doctoral dissertation, Tesi di laurea in Letteratura Italian contemporaneous, relative G. Benvenuti, Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna).

Rand, L. (2020). Transgenerational shame in postcolonial Italy: Igiaba Scego’s Adua. Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 56(1), 4-17.