The Joys of Motherhood explores the ways in which women are silenced and oppressed. Traditionally, a woman’s worth in Igbo society is tied to her ability to bear children, especially sons. The novel examines the double oppression faced by African women: they are marginalized both by patriarchal structures and by colonial rule. Despite being married, Nnu Ego is left to bear the responsibilities of the household alone. She takes on multiple roles, engaging in business and hard labour just to feed and educate her children. In Lagos, women are expected not only to be mothers but also to work and support their families due to their husbands’ low incomes.
Buchi Emecheta, in her essay “Feminism with a Small ‘f’,” states that women are expected to bear sons for security, as sons are believed to remain with the family and care for their mothers in old age. In contrast, girls are seen as temporary members who will eventually marry and leave. In The Joys of Motherhood, Agbadi’s sexual advances toward Ona are portrayed as forceful and non-consensual. He views women not as equal partners, but as sexual objects. Despite her initial resistance, Ona eventually surrenders. Her fate is not decided by herself, but negotiated by the men in her life—Agbadi and her father, Obi Umunna.
Nnu Ego’s fate and marriage are decided through an agreement between two men: her father, Agbadi, and his friend. These men, without consulting her, arrange her marriage—first to Amatokwu, and later to Nnaife. Nnu Ego’s disappointment upon meeting Nnaife is described vividly. She is shocked by his unexpected appearance and mannerisms. Her disgust represents the emotional turmoil faced by women who are married off to men chosen by their families, without love or consent.
The issue of polygamy is also highlighted. Women are treated as commodities that lose value over time—prized when new and able to reproduce, but discarded when they are no longer seen as useful. In Nnu Ego’s first marriage, her inability to conceive leads to her being cast aside. Believing her to be infertile, Amatokwu takes a new wife and pushes Nnu Ego into a separate hut meant for “useless wives.” Within marriage, women are expected to be submissive and obedient to their husbands. In many African societies, a woman’s worth is measured by her ability to bear children. In a polygamous setting, men enjoy the privilege of multiple wives and concubines, often ignoring the emotional and physical needs of their legal wives.
Although Agbadi is married, he spends most of his time with his mistress, Ona, neglecting his wives except when it is time to impregnate them. His senior wife, Agunwa, becomes gravely ill and dies on the very night he openly sleeps with Ona in the courtyard. This death implies not only physical but emotional distress—a sense of betrayal and the deep disregard for a wife’s dignity. Emecheta uses this moment to critique the patriarchal structures that reduce women to reproductive tools, denying them agency, affection, and respect.
In many African societies, a man can inherit his brother’s wife, as seen in Nnaife’s case. When Nnaife’s brother dies, Nnaife inherits all of his brother’s wives, treating them as if they are commodities. One of these wives, Adaku, comes to Lagos to live with them. Seeing Adaku, Nnu Ego feels insecure, jealous, and angry. Both Nnu Ego and Adaku become pregnant by Nnaife around the same time.
After Nnaife is taken to India during World War II, the relationship between Nnu Ego and Adaku deteriorates. Eventually, Adaku leaves the household and becomes a sex worker to support her daughters, choosing financial independence over a life of polygamous oppression. When the war ends, Nnaife returns, but instead of rebuilding the broken family, he marries a 16-year-old girl, justifying it by Adaku’s absence.
Polygamous relationships place additional strain on a family already struggling with poverty. Emecheta uses this dynamic to critique the way polygamy, patriarchy, and economic hardship intersect to harm women and destabilize family life.
Emecheta critiques the idea of motherhood, showing that although it is publicly glorified, it leaves women in a state of constant sacrifice. The pain of motherhood is powerfully depicted when Nnu Ego, desperate to save her son Oshia, begs him not to die, confessing that she has nothing left. From birth, girl children are commodified. Nnu Ego’s own name means “twenty cowries,” suggesting she is viewed more as a valuable transaction than as a person. Similarly, Ona, whose name means “a priceless jewel,” is proudly shown off by her father as if he owns her—reducing her to a decorative possession rather than recognizing her as an individual with autonomy.Nnu Ego, like many women, dedicates her life to her children. However, she dies alone, without any of her children by her side. Society praises her posthumously and celebrates her with a grand funeral, funded by her son Oshia. In traditional Igbo society, a woman’s ability to bear children determines the success or failure of her marriage. Emecheta highlights that even before colonialism, women were treated unfairly—but with the arrival of colonial rule, their struggles intensified. Colonialism brought new laws, education systems, and employment opportunities that primarily benefited men, further marginalizing women and reinforcing their subordinate roles in both family and society.