AN INTRA-GENDER CRITIQUE TOWARDS SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION IN SADE ADENIRAN’S IMAGINE THIS

Abstract

Imagine This is an epistolary biography of a Nigerian girl whom circumstances of life presents a record of more life-threatening conflicts with the female folk around her

than with the male folk. Since Intra-gender conflicts (those existing within both gender groups) and several patterns of interaction among and within genders can be found in the text as, the Intra-Gender Conflict Theory is suitably applied in the objective evaluation of the female-authored literary text, which establishes the problems Lola (the protagonist) encounters with men as seemingly easily surmountable as she manoeuvres her way around them unlike those she runs into with women. This paper intends to ascertain that feminine challenges which are mostly familial, punctured by socio-cultural beliefs and with some gender connotations, can be easily conquered. This can happen if the psychological effects of those triune aspects of life on children, particularly the girl child, are considered and that the society can be made better if women can be more loving, supportive and united among fellow mature or up-coming women, in carrying out their pivotal familial and social roles towards the reconstruction and development of the rural and urban society(s).