A dupla colonização da mulher no contexto pós-colonial em Girl, de Jamaica Kincaid

Abstract

This article examines the double colonization of women in post-colonial patriarchal society through the short story Girl by Jamaica Kincaid, a Black Caribbean writer from Antigua and Barbuda. Published in 1983, as part of the collection At the Bottom of the River, the story consists on a dialogue in which a female figure, possibly the mother or an older woman, instructs a young girl on how to behave in order to become a "good woman", through the accomplishment of chores, guidelines for social interactions, and pieces of advice on how to please men around her. These teachings reflect a patriarchal and colonialist society, normalizing the subordination of women. The qualitative research relies on works by theorists such as Ashcroft, Griffiths, Tiffin (2004), Thomas Bonnici (2005, 2009, 2012), and Décio Torres Cruz (2016) to underpin the analysis from a post-colonial literature perspective, which criticizes the cultural and political consequences of colonialism, including racism and the perpetuation of stereotypes. From a feminist perspective, post-colonial literature, particularly female-authored works, challenges and deconstructs dominant narratives and colonial stereotypes by giving voice to marginalized women. In Girl, the overlap of colonial and patriarchal oppression is evident in the formation of the character’s identity, shaped by a society in which men are central, perpetuating stereotypes about the female role in society.       

Keywords: Jamaica Kincaid. Post-colonial Literature. Feminism. Double colonization of women.