SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE GIRL-CHILD: A STUDY OF ALICE WALKER’S THE COLOUR PURPLE AND AMMA DARKO’S FACELESS

CHAPTER ONE

Background to the study: Sex occupies a very important patch in human relationships across the world. It is one of the global phenomena that constitute a universal language. This means that sex has the same understanding although different perspectives across the world. Culturally, sex has different interpretations in terms of its function and possibilities. In some cultures, sex is only permitted among married couples, in which case it is a taboo for unmarried people to indulge in sexual activities. In other cultures, sex is basically viewed as a demonstration of intimacy and love, in which case, people in a love relationship are permitted to have sex as long as there is consent from both parties. In some other cultures, sex is strictly viewed as an activity for procreation in which case people only indulge in the act for the purpose of having babies. Some religions have strict notions about sex where they insist that it should only take place in a marriage relationship. Over the years, the understanding of sex has continued to change with the times. As the years roll by, new notions, new perspectives and new ideas about sex emerge. In the 20th and 21st centuries, same sex intimate relationships have been rampant especially in the West. These days, it is not uncommon to see two women or two men introduce themselves as couples. In fact, countries like the US, Canada, Germany, France and other countries have legalised same sex marriage.

          The very act of sexual intercourse has continued to dominate human relationships and interactions. In modern times, many people view sex as an activity for exchange. Many ladies use their bodies for exchange of one material item or another for example money, jobs, and different favours. Also, many men commodify the female body seeing women as objects of sexual gratification. Sex has its place in literature to the extent that it constitutes a theoretical paradigm in it. There is the theory of sex and sexuality which preoccupies itself with different dimensions, roles and effectiveness of sex in human relations. In contemporary times, some men force some women into sexual activity especially young, under aged girls.  This is called sexual abuse. Sometimes, the abuse may not culminate in sex. When it happens this way, it is referred to as sexual harassment. But when such harassment extends to unwanted and forced sexual activity, it is called sexual abuse. According to Esther Deblinger et al “current definitions of child sexual abuse typically include sexual victimization by adults and/or peers” (2). This means that a child can suffer sexual abuse when that child is victimized by an older person or by friends and age mates.

          The issue of sexual abuse has maintained its place in all the different genres of literature where writers expose its despicable identity. However, sexual abuse is more recreated in the prose genre especially the novel. Different writers across the world dedicate their themes to highlight how sexual abuse can either destroy the individual identity or inflict a permanent psychological scar on them. Buchi Emecheta in her novel Slave Girl pursues the same theme to show that a young girl can be sold into slavery and subsequently forced into marriage due to her helplessness as a young lady. Ngozi Adichie in her novel Half of a Yellow Son also demonstrates how soldiers raped girls freely during the Nigeria/Biafra war. In his novel The Last Duty Isidore Okpewho demonstrates how a helpless woman is used as an object of sexual gratification by a man who initially pretended to be helping her and her son. In the same vein, Toni Morison in her novel Beloved shows how a lady is first exposed to slavery and consequently sexually harassed and raped while in slavery. Also, Richard Wright in his novel Native Son recounts how a black man rapes and murders his girlfriend. In all of the examples above, the writers in one way or another address the issue of sexual abuse or rape. Although these issues as presented in the novels do not form the central themes, there is a sense in which they can be interpreted as constituting part of the writer’s creative and ideological concerns.

          The issue of sexual abuse has overtime dominated many literary works around the world. It is a concern for many writers because many young girls have had their lives destroyed after they were sexual abused. Rape is the immediate, closest relation to sexual abuse because it provides a concise understanding of what is involved in sexual abuse. According to Paris Goodyear-Brown, “activities that fall under the umbrella of child abuse include touching or fondling of genitals, oral acts involving genitalia, penetration, sexual exploitation of the child for material gain (prostitution, child pornography) voyeurism, exhibitionism, and exposure to sexually explicit talk or materials” (7). For the purpose of this study, sexual abuse is understood as the forceful initiation of sexual intercourse with somebody without the consent of the person involved. Either of the genders, male or female, could be a victim of sexual abuse but this study is more concerned with sexual abuse against the girl child. The term ‘girl child’ is used in this study to designate a young, under-aged female human being in any part of the world. Given the explication of the important terms in this study, sexual abuse and girl child, the focus of this study is established thus – to investigate and explain how the girl child inevitably falls victim of sexual abuse using the two texts The Colour Purple and Faceless. Incidentally, the novels are written by two women who obviously empathize with the girl child both in the texts and in real life. Since the study is gender based and argues in favour of the girl child, it will make use of the Feminist Theory, a theory with a focus to argue and defend the rights of women in the society irrespective of their ages.

1.2 Statement of the problem

          Literature whether as creative writing or as a critical source material, is replete with many instances where sexual abuse is recreated and demonstrated. In many of those works, women are generally taken into consideration without any age demarcations. The writers and critics always make a conscious effort to showcase how women generally fell prey to marauding and licentious men who use such women as an object of sexual gratification. This kind of general interpretation of perception of the malady of sexual abuse poses a problem because it presents an unbalanced situation in the society which has also affected how the society reacts to the issues of sexual abuse. However, research has shown that young girls or under aged girls are more vulnerable to sexual abuse but unfortunately have specifically received little attention as much as it should. It is this kind of disregard or unbalanced attention to the plight of under aged girls that has necessitated this research. Every day, more and more under aged girls as daughters, nieces, neighbours, caregivers and other categories fall victim of sexual abuse. Unfortunately, victims of sexual abuse always keep quiet and unwilling to talk or reveal the incident. According to Margaret-Ellen Pipe et al “a major problem of relying on children’s statements in forensic investigations is that many sexually abused children remain silent about abuse, they deny that abuse ever occurred, or they produce a series of disclosures followed by recantations of these disclosures” (12). Using the two texts The Colour Purple and Faceless, the study clearly shows how family relatives and the society are complicit in perpetuating sexual abuse. In most cases, under aged girls as victims of sexual abuse are threatened with death and harm to maintain silence. In such situations, they keep quiet and continue to suffer the humiliation of the abuse and also suffer in silence. Although there exit many literary works with emphasis on sexual abuse and rape against women, the seeming silence or lack of attention towards the plight of under aged girls suffering the menace justifies this study. It is that gap in knowledge that this study seeks to feel and consequently project.

1.3 Aim and Objectives

The immediate objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To demonstrate that sexual abuse of the girl child exists in the two novels
2. To show how sexual abuse destroys the identity of the girl child
3. To show how society and individuals are complicit in the sexual abuse of the girl child
4. To show that the menace of sexual abuse can be adequately checkmated

1.4 Significance of the study

          This study is significant in many ways but the main focus will be on the girl child. Majorly, it is significant because it brings the attention of literary critics and writers to an aspect of sexual abuse hitherto ignored or not adequately addressed. It is also significant because it addresses the trauma suffered by under aged girls who become victims of sexual abuse. When these under aged girls suffer such traumas after sexual abuse, it affects them in their adult lives either as mothers, housewives of just as unattached adult female. The negative effect is enormous. Sometimes the experience of sexual abuse can make a man hate men or decide to find sexual fulfilment in same sex relationship. This is the case of Seth who couldn’t imagine herself loving a man after she was roundly sexual abused by Alphonso. As an adult female, she finds sexual fulfilment in a fellow lady and falls in love with her. This study highlights and establishes these realities in the novels and in the society at large. The significance is therefore foregrounded by these concerns.

1.5 Research Questions

The following questions inform the research:

1. Do sexual abuses of the girl child exist in the two novels?
2. Do sexual abuses destroy the identity of the girl child?
3. Are society and the individual complicit in the sexual abuse of the girl child?
4. Can the menace of sexual abuse in the society be adequately checkmated?  

1.6 Research Methodology

This study relies on qualitative and descriptive methods of research. It utilizes thematic analysis of the two chosen texts Faceless and The Colour Purple.  The theory of feminism will be used for a critical interpretation of the texts. Feminism argues for the rights of girls and women and also for their fair treatment in the society. The primary source of research will be the identified two texts while the secondary source will be critical materials, the internet, and magazines. In all, the research will be library based.