Women’s Dis/abilities in Identity Construction: An Intersectional Analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

Abstract

This study set out to investigate Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah in order to discuss intersectional socio-cultural dis-ability in women’s identity construction process.  The focus is on how Adichie demonstrates through narration how African women’s ontology is disabled in racial, love and cultural relationships.  The research further explores how women strive to move beyond constructed disabilities of their beingness to creatively and innovatively demonstrate their abilities as human beings. In order to achieve this goal, an intersectional perspective is imperative in examining how female characters in the novel are able to comprehend and challenge biased perceptions of their being. Therefore, keen emphasis is laid on their race, sexuality, love life, attitude towards gender and culture. The paper is based on the premise that because of the complex interactions between identity factors, Adichie’s Americanah lends itself textually to an intersectional identity analysis. The discussion reveals that dominant hegemonic cultures like patriarchy and western cultures strife to keep African women in a state of ontological disablement. However, issues discussed in Adichie’s Americanah, showcase how Ifemelu and other female characters demonstrate abilities that counteract hegemonic cultures’ perception of their being.