Representations of “The New Woman” in Changes and Our Sister Killjoy by Ama Ata Aidoo

Abstract

This study explores the representations of “the new woman” in selected works by Ama Ata Aidoo, namely: Changes (1993), Our Sister Killjoy (1977), and Girl Who Can and Other Stories (1997). Ama Ata Aidoo addresses the conditions and needs of continental African women (African women who reside on the African continent) and points out key issues relating to discrimination and exclusion on the basis of sex and gender objectification, structural and economic inequality, power and oppression and gender roles and stereotypes. It reviews several studies carried out on works by Ama Ata Aidoo thus providing this study with the privilege of filling the gaps that were not addressed. It is finally noted that Aidoo does not agree with the view that the success of a woman should be gauged by her ability to get married and have children as emphasised by African tradition. To her, the success of women does not lie in their ability to reproduce but rather in becoming productive in other aspects that benefit humanity and promote the independence and progress of a nation. Aidoo clearly implies that for any nation to develop effectively the role of a woman must not be ignored. A woman has to join hands with the man in order to see a better nation, it should however be noted that the position of a woman in the contemporary world is still a hustle since it is proven through all the new woman characters that it is hard for women to live as single or divorced without enigma from the society