Language, Feminist Theories, and Feminine Reactions to Male-alone Rural Development Projects

The Case of Adim Married Women

Abstract

Language plays a crucial role in people’s reactions to any development. Feminine reactions to a rural development project aimed at emancipating men can be either positive or negative depending on how language is used by some women to incite or convince their other fellows. This study is aimed at examining the place of language in the feminine reactions of Adim women of Biase to a rural development project that emancipated their men. The primary data are sourced from observation, introspection, and 140 oral interviewees across seven villages in Adim. Secondary data are drawn from the internet. Survey design and qualitative method along with the suitable tools are employed. The results of the analysis show that language played a crucial role in the feminine reactions of married Adim women to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) compensations to men whose houses were demolished and plots encroached into while constructing rural street roads in Adim. Many wives saw the development as what made their husbands to womanize and disregard them. Even those who never reacted as such initially later did as a result of how language was used by some of their fellows to discuss their husbands in relation to the project. The study concludes that feminine reactions to a male-impacted rural development project are influenced by inciting language use among the women. Mass sensitization, reorientation and men’s display of positive attitude towards their wives are the panacea.