Lantern: Journal of Language and Literature
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2025): Volume 11 Number 2, September 2025

GENDER RELATIONS PORTRAYED IN NGADA LEGEND “PENU AND VEGU THE ORPHAN”

Duka, Yofita L (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2025

Abstract

This paper looks at gender relations in “Penu and Vegu the Orphan”, one of the legends from Ngada. The thematic analysis of this paper revealed that the legend portrays three intertwined gender relations, such as (i) patriarchal authority, (ii) female agency and self-transformation, and (iii) gendered labor and domestic power. The analysis demonstrates that simplistic binary notions of male dominance or female subordination are challenged through Penu’s character. This female protagonist navigated a male-dominated society, using her agency through nature-driven transformation and domestic works. This paper contributes to a wider discussion of gender in folklore by underscoring the importance of indigenous oral literature as a medium for understanding the diversity of gender constructions beyond Western contexts.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

lantern

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

LANTERN is an academic journal published regularly twice a year in March and September by Faculty of Language and Literature Flores University. It publishes research-based articles in the field of linguistics, literature, and culture. The journal invites submission of studies by co-authored for ...