African Women Writing Resistance: An Anthology of Contemporary Voices

The Good Woman

One When Zimbabwe achieved its independence in 1980, Paida listened with pride as the leader of the women’s wing of the ruling party, in her first address to the nation, announced that in the new Zimbabwe, women were no longer going to be mere bedroom fixtures aimed at producing children. They were now going to assume new responsibilities in high-ranking posts. “Women,”the president of the woman’s organization said fiercely, “are now equal to men.” But even as Paida laughed and embraced her sisters, she had a disturbing sense that they were breaking some important rule. She could sense something subversive in all this talk, and she had a sinking feeling that the euphoria would end badly. Was this new woman, who was now equal to men, a good woman? From her youth, Paida had endeavored to be a good woman. She had struggled to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good student, a good mother, a 118 The Good Woman Patricia Chogugudza good wife, and now she was determined to be something else: a good strong, independent woman. But for Paida and most women, the new independent woman could not be reconciled with the good woman. Despite the declarations by the ruling party, the reality was that in postcolonial Zimbabwe, a good woman was one who showed obligation, duty, allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, and commitment to her marriage, to her in-laws, to her children, and to her husband. She also knew that to most Zimbabweans, both men and women, a good woman negated herself . A good woman was docile, passive, tame, meek, compliant, and obedient. Just as a young girl is subservient to her parents, Paida knew that a good woman must be submissive to her husband and her husband’s family. A good woman gave and gave and gave. A good woman was the flower whose petals must never fade. A good woman made the world beautiful; her role was to decorate the world. The image of the new woman posed a dilemma to Paida and to the rest of the women of Zimbabwe. Women began to question how they could be independent and yet also expected to remain under the control of husbands who had no regard for their interests. Men, too, were disgruntled at the image of the new woman. “I know women fought in the war, but who cares? The war is over. My wife is my wife and ought to behave like a wife,”was the reaction of most men. Paida, worried about the conflicting expectations, decided to confide her anxiety to her mother. But Paida’s mother was not sympathetic, and she complained to Paida’s brothers, who, fearing their wives would start becoming unruly as well, were critical of their sister. Paida found it difficult to convince her family that her marriage to Paul was making her unhappy. She could not make them see that while Paul pretended to be a good husband in their presence, he was not committed to her equality. For her mother, her brothers, and even her sisters, no woman had ever been equal to a man. So instead of supporting her, Paida’s brothers began to withdraw their love, respect, and protection from her, scorning what they termed their sister’s wayward behavior. The only one who seemed to understand was her older sister Julia, but she too was a woman and could not do much to help. Two After some time, Paida, desperate to save her marriage and her image, devised a plan to confront Paul. One evening, she came home primed to seduce her husband . Her grandmother had always told her that the ways to a man’s heart are good food and irresistible sex. After she was sure Paul was sated with both, The Good Woman 119 Paida turned to Paul, nestled close to him, and asked him softly to register her as the co-owner of their house. Paul had known that Paida was up to something, but he had never expected his wife to be this unreasonable. How could he ever explain to his family that Paida’s name was on their house? Paul was the first son, and his house belonged to his family. Paul felt that Paida surely ought to understand that. “If you want your name on the house, then pay the mortgage. I will sit here and do...