Literacies of Exclusion

       Throughout time the role of women has been perceived as child bearing figures only necessary to take care of household chores. In almost every culture as well as race females are depicted in this same light. Literacies of Exclusion gives the two different types of literacies in which people may be categorized in. The first being traditional literacy and the other being colonial literacy, and both belonging to the category of cultural literacy. In the Zibabwean culture each sex is counseled to operate only within its designated role. Like in most cultures the role of a woman is that of a daughter, wife, and mother. They are not expected to do anything else besides take care of the home and do as the man instructs you to do. For the longest, women were not even expected to receive an education, and in most cases they were not given that privilege. This is said to be traditional literacy. It was tradition for a woman to not receive academic advancement in life. She was not given the privilege to go to school and have a chance to broaden her literacy aquisition, she was only traditionally expected to remain at home and tend to the household chores and children. Colonial literacy, as mentioned in Literacies of Exclusion, is when the male figure dictates that the female figure behave in a specific manner; thus allowing the woman to receive an education but still perceiving her as the follower in society. In both aspects of literacy the woman is still expected to take instruction by the male figure and allow him to take dictatorship in the relationship. Both of these literacies create 'underdogs' as a woman. Either way it seems as if a woman can not win when it comes to male domination. Although many characteristics of this 'female role' still continue to reside in many cultures in today's society, we as women are beginning to take action and chose a role in which to advance our own life.