In Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, it was said that Okonkwo, the main character has better luck with his daughters, particularly Ezinma, although he constantly reminds her to ‘sit like a woman’ (p.40). Yet he repeats over and over again, “she should have been a boy” (pp. 57, 58, 60, 156, 157). Why do critics conclude that this aspect of the novel points to Achebe’s position that gender ought not to be a barrier to excellence or achievement?