The main way in which she does this is by posing questions that directly address “you,” who can also be interpreted as the reader. Angelou uses language and structures that serve to prove to the reader that the speaker will prevail over all of the gender norms she is expected to follow.īy talking through the first-person point of view, the speaker is able to directly confront the reader about the ways in which they have contributed to the oppression and undermining of the speaker, but also all females in general. In “Still I Rise,” Angelou uses her unique life experiences to provide a gender-specific representation of females’ nonconformist lives as they ignore the societal standards placed upon them by men. She talks about the ways in which she prevails above all of the discrimination she has faced and can still live a confident, happy life. King, and most importantly, was a celebrated writer and poet (“Maya Angelou”).Īngelou’s most prominent poem “Still I Rise,” published in 1978, specifically discusses her gendered experience in life since Angelou makes herself the speaker in the poem (Angelou).
She was associated with the White House, involved in the Hollywood film industry, worked with Dr. One poet who did not let these injustices stop her was Maya Angelou, a woman who achieved many great things in her lifetime. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau published a report in 1978 that revealed that women were still being paid less than males (“Feminist Chronicles”).Īlthough women were trying to break out of the restrictions society had placed on them, it was still very difficult to do so. Just a few examples of this inequality include the Associated Press being found guilty of discriminating against women and Naomi Hames circumnavigating the world alone but not being able to become a part of the Circumnavigators Club because of her gender. In 1978, although women were being given more rights than they had before, they were still being denied some of the basic liberties that would make them equal to males.
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