Student Question
What was the role of women in Beka Lamb?
Quick answer:
In "Beka Lamb," women play a central role in a matriarchal society where they manage households and express strong political views, even if these differ from men's opinions. Despite the presence of male authority, such as Beka's father, women influence family dynamics. Education is emphasized as crucial for women to escape traditional roles and avoid menial work, as exemplified by characters like National Vellor, who lacks educational opportunities and resorts to prostitution to survive.
In the Belize of Beka Lamb, we have a matriarchal society in which women call the shots. You will notice that there are not very many men in the novel, and the only one of any substance is Beka's father, Bill. Although Bill is not depicted as a weak, inconsequential man, in his home the women are in charge. He lives with his wife and his mother. It is true, that the women are in charge of keeping the house, cooking and raising the children, but all of the women have very strong political views and they are not afraid of discussing them with Bill, although Bill does not agree with the views. In the end, he makes it known that he is in charge, because he is the breadwinner, but the women do not make his life very easy. That is why he escapes to go to his club...
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every night to have a few drinks and smokes with his men friends and colleagues.
Beka and Toycie are warned continually by the other women that if they do not obtain an education, there will be no way out for them, and they will be forced to do menial work - the washboard under the porch. National Vellor, the prostitute, in fact, has no education, no husband, no family, so she tells Beka "What could I do?" The only way she can make a living is by being a prostitute.
One of the author's themes is that for women in Belize, if they are going to escape the traditional roles, they must get an education.