This article addresses the need for more comparative perspectives among four cognate fields of study: postcolonial, feminist, ethnic, and francophone studies. (1) Francophone studies is the analysis of literature and culture produced in French by authors coming from former French colonies; postcolonial studies...

Tsitsi Dangarembga's novel 'Nervous Conditions' focuses on the alienation of Shona women from restrictive traditional practices. Barred by custom from disagreeing verbally with their family, one woman chooses to rebel by feigning paralysis while another refuses to eat food. In both cases, the women...