Parental Neglect, Streetism and Sexual Abuse in Amma Darko's Faceless and Noviolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names.

Student: Favour Ugochi Kalu (Project, 2025)
Department of English and Literary Studies
Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State

Abstract

This study entitled, "Parental Neglect, Streetism and Sexual Abuse in Amma Darko's Faceless and Noviolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names" examines the challenges, pains, struggles, effects, causes and palpable consequences of parental neglect on the street and sexually abused children. It exposes streetism and sexual abuse neglected children face in society. The study discovered that negligence from parents, guardians, caregivers and the government has posed a huge challenge to the proper growth and overall development of these children. Thus, Darko and Bulawayo in the two novels highlight the struggles street and abused children go through in the hands of their predators through the experience of the main characters who, despite their challenges, were able to navigate their way in the situations confronting them. This study identifies education, increased government responsibility, parental responsibility and enacting the right policies to tackle these issues. This study employs African feminism, a variant of feminism in interrogating these issues. The theory seeks to promote gender equality and concern for women of African descent, challenge the patriarchal system and empower women and other marginalized groups in Africa.

Keywords
parental children neglect streetism sexual abuse darko bulawayo faceless noviolet
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