Sexism and classism are twin-devils that have kept the continent of Africa and her people where we are (a state of povertyand underdevelopment). Unless we all find a way to get rid of them and their negative impacts, the continent may continue to wallow in the self-inflicted underdevelopment that comes from gender and racial inequalities that are shamelessly encouraged through patriarchy and practised in different nations and cultures of the continent. This paper takes a qualitative approach and focuses on sexism and classism in Maru. It explores the demoralizing effects of sexism and classism on the social, economic and psychological wellbeing of the protagonist, other major characters and her Masarwa people in the hand of the Batswana people. The analysis of the novel is based on the careful study and examination of the protagonist and other characters’ characterization in the novel and other elements of fiction. The study highlights their travails and how they eventually prevail against external and internal forces of subjugation, discrimination, suppression and intimidation through formal education, polished personality, the quest for social justice, their will power and determination to succeed. The level of their success in their pursuit of emancipation is also considered in this paper. The critical approach to this study is based on literary context-oriented approach, while it uses Marxist literary and feminist literary theory respectively as theoretical framework. The study also examines the significance of sexism and classism in the context of primary text under review.
Keywords: Sexism, Classism, Discrimination, Emancipation, Inequality