Book Review: Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen 

Central theme
Feminism is the central theme of the novel as the author expresses it through the protagonist and the heroine of the story--Adah--as all the actions in the novel evolves around her.

In the novel, the author describes Africa as a patriarchical society where the female gender is seen as less significant. It is from this theme that the author derives her title from — Second class citizen. This explains that females are seen as a second class citizen in their own land as a result of being viewed as inferior.

The plot
Adah's sad experiences and struggles from the beginning of the novel till the end symbolizes feminism. The author uses Adah's feminist actions to pass the theme of feminism in the novel.

The author starts with the disappointment on Pa's face —Adah's father — and other members of the family when "she" is born instead of "he" . This explains how the male gender is placed on high premium and the female gender seen as an instrument of work,sex,bearing children,relegation and segregation.

Even Ma — Adah's mother — is not happy realizing that she's given birth to a girl and not a boy. Also, history is repeated when Adah also gives birth to Titi and her in-laws give her the look of " is that all?... all nine months wasted?"

Adah being deprived of education at her early life while Boy being sent to school shows how brutal male preference is in an African setting.

Adah's struggle to go to school without any support from any family member shows the pursuit to secure more freedom for the females. She knows that being educated is the only way of achieving her dream — going to the United Kingdom.

Ada as protagonist in the book represents a symbol of struggle and hope; oppression and freedom; limitation and liberty. She represents a saying that there is always a light at the end of a tunnel.

African mentality
African mentality,according to the author,sees females as inferior and believes that males are always right in every situation.

In a situation whereby a male makes a mistake,he shifts the blame over to any female around him and will never admit his mistake. This is portrayed on several occasions in the novel among which Adah is blamed for Francis' failure in his exams twice and many more.

Last line
The author uses "Second Class Citizen" to enlighten women, the female gender in particular,about their rights and never subject themselves to oppression except they want to suffer like Adah.The book does not only build women's confidence but is also an empowerment empowerment to them, that women are not second class but also very useful the society as their male counterpart.

**Mujeebat Idris, a 2021 Commonwealth Essay winner, is a 200 level law student at Crescent University Abeokuta, Nigeria.