Complex role of women in Things Fall Apart

Role of Women
Allowed Beating
According to the Ibo society, beating of the women was permitted. Two instances are described in the novel; one is when Okonkwo beats his second wife with the mere reason that she had not prepared her his meal. With his anger he actually forgets that it is the week of peace and never forgives his fault hence he should here the wise man say “if man cannot forgive woman with her little bit mistake, he never enjoys her great virtue.”  The other incident is encountered again when his second wife talks of him as a man whose  “guns that never shot.” Cases of beatings that were brought before the Egwugwu, the wife found favor, leaving the man to wonder why such a trifle would come before the Egwugwu. A woman had no place in terms of justice and hence a higher authority had to be sought. Thus it is argued that “Okonkwo reigned in his family with highhandness. His rage instilled perpetual apprehension in his wives especially the youngest. (Achebe 2.12).” This hence explains that women roles in the social environment of Ibo society were basically emphasized in the domestic sector.
Attributed with weakness and failure
Okonkwo was a hero of tragedy in whose life was reigned by dread, the dread for letdowns and flaws. His father Unoka  exemplified failure and weakness. Okonkwo was called a child by the other children when they called Unoka agabla which either could be taken as a man of no status or one without a “lady” Okonkwo detested whatever he deemed as scrawny or flimsy and his take of his ethnic group and that of his family members indicate that in Ibo culture strength is associated with man while frailty is to a woman. His first wife’s son Nwoye deeply brings back memories of his okonkwo’s father Unoka. Thus Okonkwo views his son as one who has woman like behavior. It is quoted that “a chick is always seen the very first day it hatches and it is expected to grow into a cock , with all my ability I have tried my best to oversee Nwoye grow into a man, but there seems to be much of his mother in him (8, 66).” Nwoye’s conversion to the Christians leaves Okonkwo to ponder how he, a fiery man could have had a son like him, who is more than worse and effeminate. He undoubtfully wishes that his daughter Ezinma could otherwise have been a boy. Hence he is quoted saying that “I could automatically be more happier if only Ezinma could have been a boy. It is clear that she has the spirit. (8.16)” Of all his children he favored her the most. It hints Okonkwo immediately he murders Ikemefuna, that he has all of a sudden turned into a shivering old woman.  Ibo Men in the society look adamant and lacking the will to battle alongside the interfering missionaries, Okonkwo remembers the days when men were men.
Women are attached to Nature
Okonkwo’s returns to his mother land after committing atrocities that have him exiled out of the Ibo society. This largely portrays how women have been attached to nature. Uchendu reproaches Okwonko for re-emerging with a motive of staying and be part of his mother’s clan. He states that the truth is that “a child belongs to his father, but if the father beats the child, the child seeks refuge in the mother’s house (8.134).” He further says that “a man belong to his father’s land when he has a good and sweet life to lead but in times of sorrow, his mother’s house is the ideal area of comfort (8.134).” this brings about the fact that a woman is seen as a protector in the Ibo society and hence ultimate and superior. Above all Uchenda’s words reveal automatically that women in the Ibo society are the basic foundation of the people and the clan. They are the beings that can fully be relied upon in nurturing and taking care of the people, thus they aren’t insignificant and powerless individuals. (Achebe 134)
Women are expected to carry out home based duties
In the Igbo community and culture, women had many roles and duties. Women have tasks comparable to those of men but they also engage themselves in making meals, washing clothes, housekeeping, bearing and raising children and agricultural roles altogether. Other responsibilities that women took part in were visiting the markets, worshiping gods and also attending cases in courts. In the Farms women were supposed to weed three times at specific periods in the life of the yams, and were never allowed neither earlier nor later. It is hence quoted that “his mother and sister worked very hard enough, but they only grew women’s crops, like the beans, cassava and coco-yams. The yam was a symbol of the king in the different varities of crops and thus was viewed to be a man’s crop (3, 28).” this signifies that men are the sole providers in their families in the Ibo community and that nearly everything there is gendered even crops. This was an important duty as failure to carry it out meant the yam crops would fail. According to Goefe ( via sugihastuti, 2000:37) feminism is explained as a theory about similarity between a man and a woman in the economic, political and social environment. Hence as men consider to ponder on this factor they are of the view that “superior is typical for man and inferior is typical for woman.” Men are so convinced that women do not possess a firm attitude and so they cannot become leaders thus stereotyping. Again during the court ceremonies, “it was very clear that the occasions were ment for men from the way everyone else in the crowd used to stand. Women would come in large numbers but they always followed the proceedings from a far distance like outsiders. Only the very entitled and distinguished men sat on their stools waiting to address and for the trials to begin. (10.2)”  women were thus totally excluded from any participation in the trials even if she was the main complainant in the case to be determine and heard. This kind of treatment shows how the Ibo society used to treat women negatively.
Representation of the earth goddess
Ani is described as a superior being in most lives of the Ibo community than any other goddess. She was basically observed as the master judge of conduct and morality. Moreover she was seen to be in great connections with the already departed ancestors of the clan whose bodies had already been buried and dedicated to the earth (Achebe 36). It seems rational where a community that views female members as inferior being unable to represent their most powerful represented goddess as being a woman (Arivia 23). It was clear that Ani’s power was very important during the harvests and hence members of the society were respected to celebrate the week meant for peace and in return Ani was expected to bless the harvest. This meant that the harvest success was deeply rooted in the significant role that a woman had to play in the society. For any woman to posses such an amazing and significant task in the achievement of the yam crops is a clear indication of the real deep rooted power of the woman in the society. Thus this is evidenced when Okonkwo breaks the Peace of Ani, immediately Ezeani proclaims, “you can ruin the whole society with the evil you posses. We shall all perish due to the insults that you have directed towards the earth goddess and she shall restrain us her blessings ” (30).
Role in Religion
The women perform the role of priestess. During the time of  Okonkwo’s boyhood, there used to be a priestess who was a woman indeed and was known as Chika. She was a god full of power and was greatly feared among the members of the Ibo tribe. In the novel, there is no point where Okwonko is seen as a pleader with any woman, whatever the reason. The fact that Okwonko is threatened by a goddess to give her his daughter is enough to say that women have a priestess power that has allowed them to rule over men and make final decisions. Again it is quoted that for Ekwefi “The only woman with whom they shared with and talked was known as Chielo. She was the main oracle of hills and caves and was the priestess of Agbala. They were so fond of each other that they shared the same place in the market place. Chielo was so fond of Ezinma that she could send her mother some beancakes to take them to her. Hence anyone who would come across Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe that she was the same person who used to prophesy when Agbala spirits posed her (6.17)” in Ibo society Chielo is deemed to be an example of a powerful woman figure the only priestess of the main god. She is an ordinary public figure in this society but when the spirits takes control of her she changes immediately and more of the ordinary and common figure people are used to. Thus it is automatically proved that it is only when a woman has behind her such kind of supernatural power that she is dully and readily respected by men. This brings about the fact that despite their unappreciated presence women are still present within the Ibo community.
Conclusion
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart the role of women is heavily limited in both their power and authority. It is noted that Okonkwo is a very aggrieved man indeed, “He literally mourned for the Ibo society which in his own perspective viewed it as one that was breaking and falling apart. He also deeply felt for the war like men of Umuofia, who all of a sudden had become soft land tender like the women. (21.25)”.  This breaking activity of the Umuofia people was a signal of weakness femininity and weakness. He once regarded his clan with great value as they shown the masculinity aspect of it, but afterwards mourns his clan after it adapts to femininity. It is clear that in the Ibo society, women are viewed to hold very significant roles and tasks as compared to the men; hence they act as nurturers, priestesses and earth goddesses