Things Fall Apart

how men and women are treated differently in this novel

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One specific thing to notice in this section of the novel is the way that women in Okonkwo’s tribe are treated. First of all, women are considered to be property of the men. Each man has multiple wives. The number of wives sometimes determine the man’s standing in the clan. Women are expected to be subservient, and they wait on their husband as he asks. The women are also in charge of cooking and raising the children. Interestingly, instead of being jealous of one another or competitive, these women seem to get along well with each other as they help one another and share duties.