Janet Character Analysis in Second Class Citizen

Janet is a white Cockney girl, pregnant at 16 by a West Indian man, whose stepfather kicks her out of the house when she insists on keeping her baby. A Nigerian immigrant named Mr. Babalola finds Janet asleep standing up in a phone booth and gives her shelter in exchange for allowing him and his friends to exploit her sexually. Eventually, however, Mr. Babalola realizes that Janet can get enough government assistance money as an unemployed mother to pay his rent; he then decides he is in love with Janet, tells his friends to stay away from her, marries her, and gets her pregnant again. Adah meets Janet because she and Mr. Babalola are Adah’s neighbors in the first set of rooms Francis rents for his family in London. Though the other neighbors gossip that Janet is promiscuous and call her Mr. Babalola’s “‘fish and chips’ girl,” Adah realizes that Janet is quite intelligent and sympathizes with her desire to secure housing for her child. Janet’s story shows that, while the novel focuses primarily on sexism in Nigerian family contexts, sexism and sexual-economic exploitation are also problems that white girls born in England face.

Janet Character Timeline in Second Class Citizen

The timeline below shows where the character Janet appears in Second Class Citizen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Meanwhile, Adah makes friends with Janet, a Cockney girl married to Mr. Babalola, a Nigerian man who came to the UK... (full context)

Culture vs. Individual Freedom Theme Icon

Janet has recently become pregnant with Mr. Babalola’s baby when Adah moves in and befriends Janet,... (full context)

...that white people lie. She has only known white missionaries, consulate workers, library workers, and Janet—never anyone like Trudy. (full context)

While Janet babysits Titi and Vicky, Adah and Francis walk to the rooms’ address. The neighborhood looks... (full context)

...his previous tenants, other Nigerians became unwilling to move into his now vacant rooms. Eventually, Janet suggests to Adah that she go talk to Mr. Noble. Adah knows his reputation and... (full context)