The Discursive Construction of Gender Identity in Sefi Atta’s <i>Everything Good Will Come</i>

Abstract

Several studies in language and gender have asserted that language is not mere words, but a system of cultural values, lifestyle, perception and a world view which assigns roles and identities to people in the society. This paper, entitled “The discursive construction of gender identity in Sefi Atta’s Everything good will come”, seeks to explicate how the above acclaimed functional impact of language in society, is reflected in the novel. Privileging the social constructionist theory, this paper reveals that gender identity is not equated with sexual identity since the two belong to two separate systems: the former social, and the latter biological. The study shows that sexual identity as well as gender bonding is binary as it has been differentiated into male and female sub-cultural groups, whereas gender identity is multiplex as it can assume diverse/varied forms depending on the sociological and physiological factors that influence and impact upon it. The study further reveals that the talk-style, actions, reactions, interaction, exposure, education and experiences of individual males and females influence and impact upon their individual gender identities. This study submits that gender identity is not static or fixed, but flexible, changing and diverse as constructed in interaction. Put differently, language (talk-style) influences and impacts upon gender identity.