TITLE:
Humorously Illuminating yet Insulting: A Feminist Deconstruction of Selected Asante Proverbs
AUTHORS:
Georgina Brookman-Andoh, Daniel Afrifa-Yamoah, Nana Afia Opoku-Asare, Martin Gyekye-Ampofo, Dorcas Pearl Slippe
KEYWORDS:
Humour, Feminism, Pragmatism, Proverbs, Obscure Nature of Proverbs
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.13,
December
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: The research looked at the
illuminatingly obscure nature of the proverb related to the people of
AnhwiaNsensanso in the Kwabere East District of Asante. A descriptive survey of
ten selected Asante proverbs was used. The purpose of the study was to use
AhwiaNsensanso as a case study to examine how the proverb is humorously
illuminating, yet insulting. A qualitative approach was employed to access and
describe the related views concerning the use of Asante proverbs. It was
informed by the theories of Humour, Pragmatics and Feminism. The main finding
of the study indicated that Asante proverbs capitalize on culture and tradition
to humorously tease and denigrate women sexually. It was observed that this is
done without regard to gender constructions that seek to remedy the imbalances
created in our contemporary African society. It is recommended by this study
that for the contemporary African society to succeed in the application of
prescribed gender constructions put in place by the feminist function, a
serious survey must be done to address rules that support those utterances in
Asante proverbs that are shockingly vulgar. This is because they serve to put
women back into a position fought already by gender activists.