In Nervous Conditions, the main character, Tambudzai, feels limited within her family and culture because she is a woman. The people of Rhodesia claim very traditional roles for men and women; women cook and clean, while men go to school and earn money. In this culture, women are not supposed to want an education or a career, they should get married and be a good housewife. Tambu decides not to follow this lifestyle, the life that her mother and father expect of her. She can't wait to leave the farm and live a British life. What she doesn't realize is that she is on the lower end of the spectrum because she is female and African. She is treated unequally within her own society because she is a woman, and she will be treated unequally in a British society because she is African. Even if her family allows her to go to school, what will she be able to accomplish with her education? Tsitsi Dangarembga, in Nervous Conditions, conveys the idea that the society that provides opportunities for better education to African women is the same society that limits the potential of these women. She does this through the British education system in Rhodesia, the patriarchal role of women in Rhodesian culture, the idealization of the British lifestyle, Babamukuru's expendable position to the mission, Maiguru's extensive education as well as his use limited of this system. education in Rhodesia and Nyasha's epiphany. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Tambu is very young, but she has very mature ambitions for herself. She is convinced that she does not want to be educated solely on the duties of her wife, especially when formal education is a fairly realistic option for her. The education that exists is English education, led by Catholic missionaries. The schools are expensive and considered prestigious, but the best education can be obtained by studying in England. For a joint Rhodesian family like Tambu’s, the only priority is to educate their sons. Although girls are accepted into schools, it is not common for a family to send their daughters to school unless they have the money to do so. In the case of Tambu, the resources are not there. Her family lives in poverty, making paying for college nearly impossible. However, when it comes to their son, education is a necessity. Tambu feels resentful towards his brother because of this fact. Her brother also belittles her and her younger sister, knowing that girls have this predestined place in society. He made his opinion clear by telling Tambu, “Have you ever heard of a girl being taken to school? With me, it's different. I was supposed to be educated” (Dangarembga 49). Tambu did not want to accept such a life, caring for a man, as his destiny. Tambu's brother is not his biggest obstacle. Her father does not agree with her request to go to school. He expresses his position by saying: "Can you cook books and give them to your husband?" Stay home with your mother. Learn to cook and clean. Grow vegetables” (Dangarembga 15). In Rhodesian culture, a son is more valuable to a family because he will remain a member of the family for all his days. The son will be responsible for taking care of his parents during their old age. On the other hand, a girl is not as valuable. She will marry into another man's family, thus leaving her own, and will only benefit her husband. From the father's point of viewTambu, there is no point in educating your daughter because she will be of no use to him in the future. This is an unfair and sexist presumption. Doesn't his father care about the success and happiness of his daughters as well as his sons? Although he is unable, financially, to provide Tambu with an education, he need not be so condescending to the idea of ​​his daughter wanting to better herself. With no other options, Tambu is determined to raise the funds needed for her tuition without the support of her family. She succeeds. Tambu receives the education she so desired. She lives with her uncle, Babamukuru, the most admired man in her family. He is well educated and successful. Tambu sees how her family is so successful and relates this to the fact that she lives a predominantly British lifestyle. Babamukuru and his entire family spend a lot of time in England and return very different. His cousins ​​no longer act in their old African ways and no longer speak the language. Almost every aspect of their lives is British, which to Tambu seems almost divine. She illustrates: “Babamukuru was God, so I had arrived in paradise. I risked becoming an angel, or at the very least a saint, and forgetting the existence of ordinary humans” (Dangarembga 70). She wanted this lifestyle and all it can offer her. For this reason, she firmly believes that in order to progress, she must abandon old habits. She does not know that among the whites in the mission, Babamukuru is considered replaceable. By changing his culture, he is unable to change his skin color, which will hold him back as long as he holds a job within English society. Even with all his education, he is unable to achieve equality with them. Tambu ignores the fact that while she may be equally entitled to a British education as a woman, she may not be as entitled to a respectful career as a woman. African among whites. At the same time, an educated woman in Africa will never reach her full potential. No matter where Tambu decides to be, she will be barred by at least one aspect of her identity. This truth is revealed to him after speaking with his aunt Maiguru. Maiguru obtains a master's degree in England, despite the disapproval of her family and husband. She has big dreams for herself, just like Tambu, but must put them aside for the sake of her family. She explains her situation to Tambu: “What it’s like is having to choose between yourself and safety. When I was in England, I glimpsed for a little while the things I could have been, the things I could have done if-if-if things were-different. But there was Babawa Chido, his children and his family. And does anyone realize, does anyone appreciate the sacrifices that have been made? As for me, no one even thinks about the things I gave up! (Dangarembga 101-102). After hearing this and perhaps relating it to his own possible future, Tambu feels sad for Maiguru's losses. The loss of one's dreams, one's goals, one's ambitions, one's independence, one's self-esteem. Tambu can't believe how Maiguru is deprived of the opportunity to make the most of herself. At this point, Maiguru has accepted her decisions and everything she sacrificed, which makes the situation even worse. Tambu knows what she wants and won't let anyone stop her. Maiguru knows what she wants, could have had what she wants, and knowingly walks away from it because she knows she can't have the best of both worlds. At least Maiguru is still working and earning money, which would not have been possible if she had not been educated. But this money does not belong to her, it is up to her husband to provide for her and their family., 1988.