Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
5-2025
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Martha Michieka
Committee Members
Yousif Elhindi, Valencia Grice
Abstract
Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo explores the intersection of feminist identity and societal expectations of African women, specifically Ghanaian women. This work examines how Esi and other characters struggle for love, autonomy, and independence, and reveals how tradition often limits African women’s choices and agency. This research also highlights how Aidoo presents a distinct, context-specific approach to gender roles and pressure from society, rather than viewing feminism as a strict opposition to patriarchy. By using African feminism as a theoretical framework, this work analyzes how marriage, career, and independence shape Esi’s identity. The depiction of polygamy, independence, and emotional fulfillment in the novel brings out questions about the acknowledgment of women within African society. By closely reading the novel, this thesis argues that Aidoo distorts the strict feminist narratives and promotes a comprehensive and regional understanding of the rights of women, self-definition, and the flexibility of identity.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Adutwum, Grace, "Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring the Intersection of Feminist Identity and Societal Expectations in Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes: A Love Story (1991)" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4503. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4503
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
