A Postcolonial Feminist Study of Gender and Identity in Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Abstract

The study aims to examine the portrayal of Black British women and non-binary individuals navigating complex identities in postcolonial Britain. Set against a backdrop of colonial legacy and contemporary multiculturalism, the novel interrogates intersecting structures of race, gender, class, and sexuality. So, the objective has been to reveal the way Evaristo constructs and deconstructs gender and identity through a postcolonial feminist lens. It focuses on how it challenges dominant patriarchal and Eurocentric narratives, giving space to marginalized voices and experiences. The research is grounded in postcolonial feminist theory proposed by Gyarti spivak (1988) in her work entitled “Can the Subaltern Speak?” The framework emphasizes intersectionality, hybridity, and resistance to colonial and patriarchal norms. The findings reveal that Evaristo’s characters embody fluid, evolving identities that resist binary definitions. Through her polyphonic narrative structure, Evaristo foregrounds the multiplicity of womanhood and queerness, highlighting how personal and political histories shape identity. The study suggests broader implications for understanding gender and identity in postcolonial literature. It encourages further exploration of intersectional narratives that redefine representation and challenge dominant cultural paradigms, particularly in diasporic and queer contexts.