Gender inequality and individual freedom in Ama Ata Aidoo’s Anowa: A comparative study of African feminist literature and contemporary society

This study examines the representation of gender inequality and individual freedom in Ama Ata Aidoo’s play Anowa (1970). Through close textual analysis and comparative feminist literary criticism, the paper analyses Anowa’s struggle for personal autonomy against traditional expectations concerning marriage, motherhood, economic dependence, and social behaviour. The study compares Aidoo’s treatment of these themes with the works of Buchi Emecheta, Mariama Bâ, Nawal El Saadawi, Tsitsi Dangarembga, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach and contemporary research on gender norms, the analysis establishes the continuing relevance of Anowa to the aspirations of the present generation regarding education, career, marriage, and personal identity. The findings suggest that genuine individual freedom requires gender equality, social recognition, and ethical responsibility toward the rights and dignity of others.