ABSTRACT
The common experience of women is quite similar and unique, as both traditional and urban women have shared social experiences on their journey. Their individuality and ideology are characterised by their social experience. It is against this backdrop that this chapter examines the urban woman in an urban space in Chidinma Daniel's Deacon Dick, Married and Single and King Daybreak of Etioba. The article engages in a textual analysis of the selected plays, to understand the concept of individual survivalism. It is my argument that, beyond the feminist issues that are the usual concerns of critics with female works, this chapter looks at individual survivalism as it applies to the female characters. In other words, how do the female characters survive in the urban, as they experience the same issues of motherhood and as progressive individuals. Thus, this study identifies that going against the norm is one of the strategies for survival in an urban space. It concludes that beyond the negative portrayal of women by male playwrights, women have their place of strength, power and usefulness which makes them an important force to reckon with in the social reconstruction of our societies.
