Wise Saying or “Foolish” Saying: Assessing the Views on the Impact of Some Ghanaian Proverbs and Sayings on Gender Relations in the Frafra Traditional Area of Ghana

Most cultures recognize gender differences, but the problem emerges when such differences are misunderstood as gender inequity, especially to the detriment of women. Gender disparity is evident in one component of culture, namely language, and more specifically the use of wise saying also known as proverbs. Wise saying is used interchangeably with proverbs which are said to contain a society’s wisdom. People’s action or inactions are frequently reflected in the meanings and interpretations of proverbs in some communities. This study investigates how wise saying or proverbs among the Frafra Traditional Area in the Upper East Region in Ghana may impact on gender relations. Using a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), we discovered that while some proverbs show masculine supremacy such as the construction of masculinity, ironically, exposes males to significant hazards in their attempts to meet society’s expectations. These proverbs implicitly limit the socio-cultural space in which men can communicate their socially created ordeals. To address gender inequality in the Frafra traditional area in Ghana holistically, we recommend that the traditional image of men in proverbs needs to be critically re-examined.