Girlhood, Repression, and Trauma: Psychoanalysis of Warsan Shire’s Extreme Girlhood

Abstract

This study analyzes Warsan Shire’s poem Extreme Girlhood using Freud’s psychoanalysis. The focus is on repression, trauma, and unconscious processes shaping girlhood. Freud’s framework explains how childhood experiences influence later identity formation. The poem reveals cycles of suffering repeated across generations. Freud described this as repetition compulsion, where trauma returns symbolically. The analysis highlights how repression silences pain but creates recurring symptoms. Prayer, fear, and self-condemnation illustrate unconscious desires and guilt. Freud’s theory of displacement explains altered images of trauma. Dream symbols like ropes and shadows mask hidden fears. The poem becomes a dreamlike stage for repressed memory. Freud’s concept of the superego clarifies the voices in her head. These voices reflect internalized criticism from parental and cultural authority. The study shows how the home becomes a site of danger. Freud explained that the family first imposes repression on the child. The poem illustrates this process with striking imagery and symbolism. Trauma is inscribed on the body through grooming and violence. The analysis confirms Freud’s relevance for interpreting Shire’s work. It also fills a gap in existing scholarship. Previous studies addressed culture and migration, but few used psychoanalysis. This approach uncovers hidden meanings beyond cultural interpretation. The study contributes new insight into girlhood, repression, and unconscious struggle. It shows how psychoanalysis explains the poem’s symbolic language. Freud’s theories remain useful for exploring contemporary poetry. This research strengthens dialogue between psychology and literature