Prostitution as a Mark of Frustration of the Girl Child

The Case of “Tanga” in “Tut’appellerasTanga” and “ATEBA” in “C’estle soleil qui m’abrûlee” by Calixthe Beyala

Abstract

This paper examines prostitution as a manifestation of deep frustration and social failure in the upbringing of the African girl-child, through the analysis of two characters: Tanga in Tu t’appelleras Tanga and Ateba in C’est le soleil qui m’a brûlée by Calixthe Beyala. The study reveals how these young girls, born into dysfunctional families and abandoned by irresponsible parents, become victims of sexual abuse, poverty, and social neglect. Tanga suffers incest and is forced into prostitution by her mother, while Ateba is born to a prostitute mother, raised by a prostitute aunt, and later falls into the same path. Both girls grow up in the slum "Bidonvilles," a symbol of societal decay and the collapse of cultural and moral values. The work adopts feminist theory, particularly radical feminism, to explore the oppressive patriarchal structures that perpetuate violence and exploitation against women. It concludes that prostitution, in these cases, is not a choice but a consequence of frustration, abandonment, and lack of guidance. The text calls for parents to take up their responsibilities seriously in raising children and for society to rethink its moral and cultural frameworks.