Transnational Feminism in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah (2013): Race, Beauty Standards, and Global Mobility

Abstract

This study focuses on the manifestation of transnational feminism in Americanah (2013) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It focuses on the impact of race, standards of beauty, and moving around the world on the story. Using the ideas of Chandra Talpade Mohanty, the research focuses on the main character, Ifemelu, dealing with beauty politics that are associated with race as she experiences gender in Nigeria, America and Britain. The analysis demonstrates that Americanah pushes back against the Western feminist stories by placing the specific stories of African migrant women front and center. The study pays close attention to issues such as hair, work discrimination, relationships, and Ifemelu's blog to demonstrate how the book contributes to the transnational feminist discussion by highlighting the "scattered hegemonies" that exist throughout countries. The findings suggest that shifting around the globe does not always result in freedom; it can lead to new forms of racial and gender oppression, but new forms of resistance and building solidarity across borders. This research addresses one of the gaps to study modern African women writers employing transnational feminism ideas to critique both Western imperialism and national patriarchy. The study concludes by stating that Americanah calls for a deeper understanding of feminism that takes into account how gender, race, class and nation shape women's lives worldwide.