Motherhood in the Naming: Mothers and Wives in the Finnish/Karelian Cultural Region

Abstract

This paper has been prompted by a stimulating intervention of Oyeronke Oyewumi whose article in the Signs (2000) links up with the theme of `motherhood' quite centrally and in a comparative tone. Her basic argument is to emphasize the importance of motherhood as an important self-identity of African women, obviously not well understood by Western feminists. Her critique of Western feminism is added by some critical observations by Ifi Amadiume, who has written extensively on the Igbo gender system. Both scholars are prominent Nigerian feminists.