Ete Kamba + Nko = <3 ?

Upon opening Double Yoke, I was taken aback by the language Buchi Emecheta uses. It is not standard English that we are accustomed to. Many words are misspelled ("practised," "realised," "puzzzled," etc.), and "one" and "oneself" are used a bit often. After a while, however, I got used to the language, and realized that it adds to the authenticity of the story. Had it been written in perfect English, it would be hard to imagine the Nigerian setting and characters.

She also did a great job of depicting the circumstances in Nigeria at the time (and possibly still today) - the city being controlled by the rich, NEPA taking away water and electricity at random, most people being poor farmers, the center of the city being overly crowded, going to school being an astonishing accomplishment, the patronizing treatment of women, etc.

I am, however, very confused about Ete Kamba's feelings about women and education, but I assume that he himself is unsure. At first he is amazed by the famous female writer, and thinks of her as somewhat of a role model. That is, until he realized that she is a woman, and becomes ashamed of having thought so highly of her. Later, he is happy when he finds out that Nko goes to a good school, because he wants a woman that "must be well educated" (26). Immediately, however, he starts worrying that she might be in a higher grade than him, and that would be unacceptable, because his woman's "education must be a little less than his own, otherwise they would start talking on the same level" (26). Even when he is trying to flirt with Nko, one of his comments "was meant to be both a patronosing and flattering statement" (26), and I do not see how the two could work together.

I am curious to find out how their relationship progresses. Nko is educated, and is obviously offended by his sexist remarks. He, however, wants "a very quiet and submissive woman, a good cook, a good listener, a good worker, a good mother" (26), and I do not believe that Nko matches that description. Yes, she seems to be shy and submissive, but she has very different ideas about the role of women in society than Ete Kamba. She is probably not even a virgin, which really bothers him.