Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in English

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, English and Literary Arts

First Advisor

Maik Nwosu

Second Advisor

Eric Gould

Third Advisor

Menglu Gao

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

African women's health narratives, Gyno-texts, Literature and medicine, Medical humanities, Psychoanalytic feminism, Scriptotherapy

Abstract

This study explores the interdisciplinary field of literature and medicine through a feminist psychoanalytic lens, focusing on how Nigerian female writers represent illness, healthcare, and medical ethics in post-independence gyno-texts. Traditionally, scholarship in this field has centered on andro-texts (literary works authored by men), leaving a critical gap in the exploration of women’s perspectives. This research addresses that gap by analyzing nine prose works authored by Nigerian women, including texts by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ayobami Adebayo, Lola Shoneyin, and Samira Haruna Sanusi. These texts are examined for their portrayal of diseases such as infertility, cancer, bipolar disorder, and renal failure, as well as healthcare infrastructure, patient-doctor relationships, and gendered experiences of medical care.

Drawing from the psychoanalytic feminism of scholars like Nancy Chodorow and Juliet Mitchell, the study interrogates how illness and trauma are internalized and then externalized through narrative, revealing not only the personal psychological impact but also the societal structures that contribute to women's suffering. The analysis highlights how literary techniques such as metaphor, catharsis, and scriptotherapy, are employed to challenge patriarchal medical practices and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered healthcare.

Furthermore, the dissertation situates these texts within the broader framework of medical humanities, emphasizing literature's role in humanizing medical practice, iii enhancing empathy in caregivers, and providing therapeutic release for both writers and readers. This research repositions literature not only as a reflective mirror of medical realities but also as an active agent of social transformation. By incorporating oral literature, cultural traditions, and socio-political critique, Nigerian female authors construct a uniquely African feminist medical discourse.

Ultimately, the study demonstrates that literature is a powerful diagnostic and healing tool. It affirms that African female writers use their narratives to expose systemic healthcare deficiencies, foreground the specific needs of women, and contribute meaningfully to the reimagining of an equitable medical future in Africa. This research underscores the value of integrating literary analysis into health discourse to foster a more inclusive and culturally attuned healthcare system.

Copyright Date

6-1-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Rachael K. Aderoju

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

228 pgs

File Size

851 KB

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