Overcome by shear weight of numbers, the police beat a hasty retreat, and after they had gone the crowd that had gathered
in the compound also began to disperse. Some of the women, however, formed little groups and began patrolling the streets of the neighborhood,
armed with bottles filled with sand. Still caught up in the excitement of the fight, and a little drunk with victory,
they accosted every man who appeared in their path" (p.109).
This passage introduces chapter nine, Dakar Mame Sofi, and really captures the essence of
of the strength of the women in God's Bits of Wood. There is a sense of female empowerment and a shifting
of gender roles, as the women become the soldiers and the physical enforcers of the movement. As Mame Sofi, leads her group of
women toward the house of El Hadji Mabigue, she is filled with the leadership of a general or a leader. When approached by
the servant at Mabigue's home and referred to as a "good wife," Mame Sofi boldly confronts the man and refers to him as a "slave" asserting her
aggressive nature and will to proceed with her cause. As Mame Sofi, surpasses the feeble male servants at the
entrance, she boldly calls out "Mabigue! Come out! Come out if you are a man! You only have courage when your hiding behind
the toubabs! You made them close down the fountains, now come out here and see if you are man enough to make me close
my mouth!" Though she is a woman, Mame Sofi has become a leader, and leads not only her group of women, but the the
oppressed in Senegal. As the women remain gathered, in N'Diayene, the strike against the French management,
has evolved into a struggle for rights, not just for men, but for society as a whole. It is the women whom become the
activists and effectively cause change.
This particular passage exemplifies the women's influence not only in the struggle for equality but an uprising for women.
Though many of these women are old, they still posses the strength and the will to fight and are relentless. The women are also
very resourceful and very tactful as the second fight awaits them when the authorities are men on horses and Ramatoulaye speaks of turning herself in
the women regroup and strategize. As a voice in the crowd is heard yelling, "Ramatoulaye! Mame Sofi! There are spahis coming!"
Mame Safi calmly replies, "Well, we'll give them the same kind of reception we gave the policemen!" It is Mame Sofi's leadership qualities
that gives the women a newly discovered confidence. As the women prepare for the second wave of resistance, they have become
the tactful military and devise a very valuable technique as they prepare their only weapons of jugs and straw to ignite on fire and scare the horses
of the on-coming men on horses. Mame Sofi, quietly replies to her women fighters, "Now go out, and line up on both sides of the street. Don't light
any of the straws -wait until I give the signal". This passage speaks volumes about the courage of the women and the leadership
of Mame Sofi, as they successfully repel the resistance.
It is the women that are the strength in God's Bits of Wood. It is a common theme in Sembene's books and movies, that
the women are very influential in progressive change, whether it be Faat Kine being a successful business woman or Mame Sofi being a strong
symbol of military type leadership, the women are the stronghold in society and a symbol of empowerment. Though
there is a terrible, cyclical strike that plagues the land in God's Bits of Wood, the women symbolize hope and change.
5 comments:
Excellent blog, Bryan!
I did not think of the empowerment of women as a shift in gender roles, maybe that’s my Western mentality influencing me, I suppose. I viewed it as a makeshift equality between the sexes. The women were off gathering food and the men were anticipating the French management’s next move. But the book definitely places women in a series of powerful and significant roles. And, while Mame Sofie seemed overshadowed by Penda and Rama in my reading of the book, it is very difficult to deny her strength.
What did you make of the water bottles with sand in them? To me, it seemed like the earth itself, Senegal, was fighting through these women. Also, it ties to the union, the combined efforts, of men and women (sand combined with water and seeds could result in fertility). This could very well be a stretch. But, you know, it’s a possibility, I think.
Yet again WOMEN for Ousmane right?
I wanted to feature my blog on his emphasis on women, but I figured someone else would do a great job with it-and sure enough here it is. Yes! women definitely seem to be the backbone for many families as they support their husbands/men (strikers) in their battle with the European owners.
The significance of the women that really stood out was demonstrated through their self reliance and strength. This was seen in certain moments of the strike when they seemed to step even ahead in front of the men. Not to mention they had to "hold down the fort," while their husbands were away.
I agree with your blog, how there is a shift in female power and strength and also a somewhat shift in gender role. After all that the women had to endure they realize that they have to take matters in to their own hands and so they do. Mame Sofi is a very strong character but at times I found myself wondering that with all her courage she almost becomes less of a woman and more of a man. By this I mean that the other women grief and cry while Mame Sofi doesn't appear to really feel anything, she appears to be almost cold. This does not mean that the men do not grief or cry but the facade of a strong person is more male than female. Maybe Sembene intended for that as a way to show that men and women are really not that different when it comes down to it. Maybe that is what is needed to be able to get to where you are fighting to get to.
Women in Sembene's work are strong and this indicates a want for change in society, that is something that happened in Senegal. When the women, after the strike, started getting time for themselves it showed a time where the need to care for themselves had come and the realization that they can be independent when needed. Their lives are no longer only to care for the house and the family, or to depend on the man of the house, but also for themselves. This is more advanced than many other countries around the world, especially during this timeperiod.
What a true way of empowering women
What a true way of empowering women
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