Female domination in Fatou Diome’s Celles qui attendent and in Philomène Bassek’s La tache de sang

Résumé

This study is motivated by the observation that the subject of masculinity in African women’s writing has not yet been sufficiently explored. Little attention has been paid to analyzing women’s writing in relation to masculinity. This study therefore proposes to analyze patriarchy as a form of masculinity that catalyzes the domination of women. To carry out this investigation, Connell’s (2005) perspective on masculinity is necessary in the analysis of La tache de sang by Philomène Bassek and Celles qui attendent by Fatou Diome. Connell recognizes that masculinity is a social construct rather than a state. He also argues that there is a variety of masculinities and that masculinity only exists in relation to femininity. The article answers the following question: why do men behave in the way they do? This study concludes that customs promote masculinity.