This paper scrutinized the womanist ideology in Aidoo's "Changes: A Love Story". It employed Alice Walker’s Womanism theory as the theoretical perspective within which the analysis of the instances of womanism in the text was cast. A major argument in this paper is that Aidoo's female characters are all well-educated, economically empowered, yet in their quest for independence as women in a traditionally patriarchal society, they opted against the Western radical feminist ideology of challenging men's domination and superiority over women to the extent that they would not agree to marry nor give birth. The paper then asserts that Aidoo is not a radical feminist but a Womanist who through her characters demonstrated Esi, Opokuya and Fusena’s willingness to marry, bear children, and work for the survival and wholeness of the family inter alia which are contra-attributes of radical feminism. The paper is relevant because it contributes to the ongoing discourse on the feminist ideology of Aidoo in her works.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- ABSTRACT
- INTRODUCTION
- THEORETICAL LENS
- OVERVIEW OF THE TEXT
- ANALYSIS
- CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the womanist ideology presented in Ama Ata Aidoo's novel "Changes: A Love Story" (1991), utilizing Alice Walker's Womanism theory as a framework. The paper explores how Aidoo portrays women characters who, despite their education and economic empowerment, choose a path different from Western radical feminism. It delves into Aidoo's nuanced perspective on feminism and womanism, highlighting the unique challenges and realities faced by African women in a patriarchal society.
- The portrayal of womanist ideology in Aidoo's "Changes: A Love Story"
- The complexities of women's empowerment and independence in a patriarchal African context
- The distinction between radical feminism and womanism as presented in the text
- The role of family, love, and survival in the lives of Aidoo's female characters
- The unique challenges faced by African women in navigating traditional values and societal norms
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with a discussion of the womanist ideology, drawing from Alice Walker's theory. It then provides an overview of Aidoo's novel "Changes: A Love Story," focusing on the key themes and characters. The analysis section delves into the representation of womanism in the text, exploring how Aidoo's female characters navigate their roles within a patriarchal society. The paper concludes with a summary of the findings, highlighting the significance of Aidoo's womanist perspective in understanding the realities of African women.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the key concepts of womanism, feminism, African culture, patriarchal society, women's empowerment, family, love, survival, and the unique challenges faced by African women in achieving independence and navigating traditional norms.
- Quote paper
- Joseph Peter Yaw-kan (Author), 2022, The Womanist Ideology. A Study of Aidoo's Novel "Changes: A Love Story", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1361262
