Abstract
This study, entitled “Katherine Bartlett’s Consciousness-Raising and Patriarchal Mentality: Towards Effective Feminist Struggle in Nigeria,” seeks to address the persistence of patriarchal mentality among Nigerians in order to advance effective feminist struggle in the country. The study adopts a qualitative research method, drawing on relevant literary materials on Bartlett’s concept of consciousness-raising, patriarchal mentality, and feminist struggle in Nigeria, which are critically analyzed and evaluated.
The paper is anchored on the theory of radical feminism, which holds that differences between men and women within patriarchal societies do not inherently imply inequality or discrimination. Building on this framework, the study argues that gender inequality and the discrimination emphasized by many feminists, particularly liberal feminists, stem more from entrenched patriarchal mentality than from patriarchy itself.
The analysis demonstrates that feminism in Nigeria continues to be hindered by patriarchal mentality, which serves as a major obstacle to its effectiveness. It highlights Bartlett’s idea of consciousness-raising, particularly the sharing of women’s experiences, as a viable means of addressing and transforming these mental structures.
The study concludes that consciousness-raising offers an inclusive approach that accommodates the participation of both women and men in the shared understanding of women’s experiences. It therefore recommends the adoption of Bartlett’s consciousness-raising as a strategy for dismantling patriarchal mentality and fostering a more effective feminist movement in Nigeria.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19368302
Writers:
Uchenna Nympha Nkama (Ph.D)
Rivers State University, Port Harcourt
Phone No. 08130174090, 07039038944
ORCID ID: 0009-0009-5835-274X
Corresponding Author’s Email:
nymphauchenna05@gmail.com