A culture of women-battering in Sefatsa's dramatic text Pakiso : a feminist perspective

Abstract

This research project entitled: A Culture of Women-battering in Sefatsa's Dramatic Text Pakiso: A Feminist Perspective, is about violence and abuse that the Basotho women experience in society. Sehloho, a violent and abusive Mosotho man, abuses his wife and his two concubines, Mmalenka and Sofi. The study is divided into six chapters and woman-battering as depicted in the dramatic text is discussed in those chapters. Chapter one is the introductory chapter and it presents the conceptualization, problem statement, literature review, the aims of the study as well as the contribution and challenges of the study. The second chapter is the pillar of the study. It is the chapter that provides the study with the theoretical frame-work. As research is guided by and dependent on theory to enhance its meaningfulness, this study is guided by Feminism. Feminism helps to organize the study and provides a context in which to examine the problem of the study. It helps to gather and analyse data. The third chapter gives a clear picture on how Sehloho the irresponsible husband of Mmadimakatso beats his wife. He beats her in front of his concubine Mmalenka. Sehloho abuses his wife emotionally, verbally and physically. He also beats his wife in front of their children. His children grow up in an environment where they develop depression and fears in their lives. The fourth chapter discusses how Sehloho abuses his concubine Mmalenka by eloping with her by force. As she is reluctant to go with Sehloho, he beats her and

forces her to leave her house without a person guarding it. Mmalenka is forced to leave her house and her business because she is a shebeen queen. The most painful part of Sehloho's action, is when he takes Mmalenka to Mmadimakatso's house and forces both his wife Mmadimakatso and his concubine Mmalenka to sleep in the same room. Mmadimakatso does not agree to share a room with Mmalenka. Sehloho accommodates Mmalenka in the outside room. In the fifth chapter, the study discusses how Sehloho when he is in Dithotaneng at Setinkolo‟s place. He is much attracted to Setinkolo's daughter Sofi. He proposes love to Sofi and tells her lies that he is still a single man. Sehloho elopes with Sofi to Mmalenka's place. He forces Mmalenka to accommodate Sofi in her hut‟s room but Mmalenka beats Sofi. At the end, Sehloho and Sofi sleep in Mmalenka's hut. Mmalenka decides to sleep with Sehloho's children in another hut. Mmadimakatso and Mmalenka go out and Sofi is left alone at home. She calls Sefofane and they steal from Mmalenka and Mmadimakatso. The concluding chapter is related to the questions raised in the introductory chapter. Sofi becomes the voice of the voiceless. As she steals from Mmadimakatso and Mmalenka, Sehloho‟s status of patriarchal domination ceases and both Mmalenka and Sofi are released from the practice of tjhobediso. Mmalenka is released from an abusive marriage and she returns to her house.