Walter Ntsimane's portrayal of women in the radio series Motlhabane

Abstract

The portrayal of women in Setswana literary works and in the electronic media tends to perpetuate stereotypes of women. This may result in a society that continues to degrade women. Ntsimane, the author of Motlhabane, has written a drama series that depicts women in a negative way through the creation of weak female characters who are often exploited by males, are gossips, adulterous and generally manipulative and of low morals. Feminist literature has, among other things, challenged, especially male authors who promote and perpetuate negative stereotypes of women. The view that women are weak, adulterous, possessive and have low morals emerges from traditional cultural perceptions, and thus writers who do not give a balanced view of women continue to portray this view. Women have been discriminated against in many spheres of life, such as in the work place, at home, in politics, in the economy and in society in general. This study explores the portrayal of women in the radio series Motlhabane and reveals clearly that the series fails to portray women as having an important role to play in life and in a family structure and thus need • to be afforded respect. The conclusions of this study are a warning to men about women who do not fit the traditional mould of submissive wives and are therefore looked upon as being morally corrupt and promiscuous. The author does not treat his female characters with respect. The study highlights challenges facing emerging authors who write about women, and directs them to focus on representing women in a balanced manner in their works. The challenge for the emerging generation of authors is to learn to write in a sensitive balanced manner about women.