Rhythms of Resistance: Intersectional Feminism in Maya Angelou's Poetic Voice

The present paper explores the theory of Intersectional Feminism in select poems of Maya Angelou. Most of her work is on her actual experiences and hardships as a black woman. Feminism, in general, is considered as the only idea in which women should be equal to men, but it is not true to its core. Its more conducive branch called Intersectional Feminism presents the understanding of how women faced racism, religion and the impacts of abuses and discriminations. Intersectional feminism has come from the term intersectionality which means, the acknowledgment that everybody has their own experience of discrimination and oppression such as sexism, homophobia, transphobia and many more. Therefore, it represents a type of feminism that makes us aware of this system and the condition of female in society. Maya Angelou in her poems talks about freedom, challenges restrictive notions of feminine beauty and about self-respect and confidence. She says that she will rise to any occasion; nothing can hold her back. This paper will talk about the aspects of feminism through this noted African-American poet.