CRISIS OF QUEER IDENTITIES IN TENDAI HUCHU'S THE HAIRDRESSER OF HARARE

ABSTRACT

The term identity is a common concept that is known to many. However, the concept of identity crisis is one that is not particularly common even though it is a thing that affects a lot of us many times. In this study, we will discuss the concept of identity crisis using Tendai Huchu's The Hairdresser of Harare and Eloghosa Osunde's Vagabonds. In an attempt to make this study as original as we can, we will discuss first, queer identity and then, identity crisis using the queer characters from the selected texts, thus basing our study on the queer theory approach of literary analysis. We have employed the qualitative method of research to unveil what kind of identity crisis the queer characters experienced, the cause of their identity crises and how the authors of the texts proposed resolutions to the identity crises. In this research, we find that identity crisis is a state of uncertainty in who a person is and this is usually caused by a critical or traumatic event that happened in the person's life. While Huchu recommends moving to an environment where one is accepted and supported, Osunde recommends employing a quick and smart way to get through the identity crisis. The study concludes that to resolve an identity crisis, one needs to get over the events that caused the identity crisis and move on with life with a positive view of the future.