The Girl Who Can - ICSE Class 10
The short story by Ama Ata Aidoo is about a seven-year-old girl Adjoa who emerges as a curious, brave, and defiant child. She ultimately transcends traditional gender norms that confine women to only childbearing.
Meet the Author
- Ata Ama Aidoo was a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, politician, and academic. Her stories mainly depict issues of choice and conflict.
- Born: 23rd March, 1942
- Place of Birth: Abeadzi kyiakor, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
- Died: 31st May, 2023
- Major Works: The Dilemma of a Ghost, Anowa, Our Sister Killjoy, and Changes
- Best Known For: She is known for voicing out women's issues to change women's empowerment and promote education in Africa.
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Summary & Analysis
The narrative “The Girl Who Can'' deals with a seven-year-old child named Adjoa who resides in a big village Hasodzi in Central Ghana, Africa. The fertile land in Hasodzi compared to the rest of Africa signifies the village's prosperity and agricultural abundance.
This is an example of juxtaposition. The fertility symbolizes the potential for growth and prosperity, not only in agriculture but also in personal development. The land's richness stands in stark contrast to the restrictive beliefs held by Adjoa's grandmother, Nana, who views women primarily as child-bearers. showcasing the village's significance.
Adjoa’s primary struggle was her inability to voice her opinions and speak her mind. Her Nana's traditional conditions hindered her. Her mother, whom she calls Maami, was a silent observer forced to accept her mother's validations. This insists on three generational societal thinking.
When the grandmother insists that Adjoa finish her meal, she talks about the problems in society and finds it thankful for not giving her problems. Adjoa disagreed with her by stating she too had different problems at different stages but was unable to express them.
When she uttered her problem to her grandmother, she was either mocked or silenced to not repeat the words anymore. She laughed to an extent till she cried out of happy tears. This again got circulated among the rest of the elders eventually ending up all laughing together. This pattern of command to silence to laughter created a form of self-doubt and reinforced a thought that her opinions were undervalued. Adjoa was confused and could not interpret the hypocrisy behind this.
Nana constantly complained about her thin legs that would not support her hip which was required for childbearing. She claimed to the extent of accusing Maami of marrying a person who fathered a girl with spindly legs. Maami defends Nana by stating some are born without legs and we are blessed to have them. Nana dismissed Maami’s perspective arguing that while accidents can lead to physical deformities, girls born with legs should conform to a particular and presumably traditional standard. Unable to observe adult women's legs due to societal conditioning norms, she finds no clarity in what kind of leg is the right one that Nana deserves.
As I keep saying if any woman decides to come to this world with all of her two legs, then she should select that have meat on them: with good calves. Because you are sure such legs would support solid hips. And a woman must have solid hips to be able to have children.
Despite Nana's criticisms, she admired her grandmother for her wisdom and authority. This shows her affectionate nature. Adjoa holds mixed and conflicting emotions for her grandmother. It is layered with admiration for her wisdom and authority over her family and frustration for her fixed thoughts on the physical attributes of her spindly legs.
Despite Nana's preoccupation with legs, Adjoa discovers solace and purpose at school. Maami desired her daughter to receive the education which she had missed out on. This shows her progressive thinking that she valued education. Adjoa excelled in running and she kept her achievements a secret to her family. When she is unexpectedly chosen to represent the school at the district sports week, Nana and Maami's reactions are filled with surprise and pride.
Suddenly, Nana takes utmost care of Adjoa’s school uniform showing a newfound interest beyond her physical appearance. This showed a progressive mindset of nana signaling a shift in focus from physical appearance to acknowledging Adjoa’s talents.
During the event, Nana accompanies Adjoa and her family pretending to be occupied somewhere. This reflects a blend of lingering skepticism and pride regarding Adjoa’s capabilities.
Adjoa’s joy in wearing the uniform and winning the cup for the best athlete in the junior category dominated the thought of Nana’s criticism. Adjoa’s journey from being questioned to being validated signified her effective growth in how she wanted to convey her thoughts. This not only signifies progress in Nana’s behavior but also in Adjoa's behavior who has proven her victory effectively from being a person who wasn't able to voice out.
That 'even though some legs don't have much meat on them, to carry hips... they can run. Thin legs can run...then who knows ?..." I don't know too much about such things.
Nana's reaction to Adjoa's victory at the district sports week marks a profound shift in her granddaughter's abilities. She carried the cup proudly on her back reminiscing of how babies and valuable items are carried. Nana showcased a new-found pride in Adjoa's achievement when she showed it to Maami with enthusiasm.
When Nana holds Adjoa on her lap, a tender moment unfolds and whispers that thin legs do not contribute to solid hips for childbirth but possess unique strengths to open up many possibilities beyond conventional roles.
Adjoa deeply validated Nana's emotional response. It stands in stark contrast with all the earlier discouragements and criticisms.
Maami, true to her reserved nature, refrains from interrupting the poignant moment. Her silence meant a sigh of relief and acceptance.
In this way, Adjoa's journey culminates in a powerful realization of self-growth, resilience, and perseverance in her path. This also highlights the understanding of family dynamics.
Now let us take a look at some of the literary devices used in the story.
Irony
The irony is we as main readers know what is going to happen that even the main characters are unaware of. The situational irony here represents the description of the thin legs with a yardstick.
As I keep saying, if any woman decides to come into this world with all of her two legs, then she should select legs that have meat on them: with good calves. Because you are sure such legs would support solid hips. And a woman must have solid hips to be able to have children.'
Metaphor
A metaphor helps to explain something or make a comparison though not literally. some examples of a metaphor in the story are:
- grand daughter with spindly legs
- my mother felt she was locked into some kind of darkness.
Simile
A simile compares two things using the words “like” or “as” that highlights the similarities between them. An example of a simile in the story is:
But she walks way behind. As though she was on her way to someplace else.
These literary techniques emphasize more on the story of how a seven-year-old girl navigates her modern thoughts within a family rooted in traditional values.
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Above and Beyond the Text
Women Empowerment
Women Empowerment encompasses taking charge of their lives, pursuing their goals, and playing meaningful roles in society. It equips women to elevate their status through education, awareness, literacy, and training. Moreover, women's empowerment facilitates the redefinition of gender roles and other societal norms, granting women greater freedom to pursue their aspirations.
Some of the influential African feminists who changed African literature are Flora Nwapa, Nawal El Saadawi, and Mariama Ba. Click to learn more about African Feminist Authors and explore more.
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The Girl Who Can - ICSE Class 10 Questions and Answers
Below are a few questions that you can look out for your examinations and class tests. Stand out with perfectly written answers with help of Aneetta Class.
In the short story The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo, the fertile land of the village, Hasodzi, serves as a juxtaposition to the societal expectations placed on women, particularly regarding their roles and capabilities.
According to Nana, women's only role is to have strong meaty legs able to support the hips that facilitate childbirth. She thinks education is a waste of time for girls and abides by the traditional roles patriarchy has assigned to women.
Adjoa goes on to win a cup for the best athlete in the junior category at school. Through this, she proves that the feminine nature of women lies in strength and resilience beyond physical attributes.
MCQ And RTC
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