The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo
Introduction
"The Girl Who Can" is a powerful coming-of-age story told through the eyes of seven-year-old Adjoa, a young girl living in postcolonial Ghana. This short story brilliantly weaves together themes of tradition and modernity, using Adjoa's seemingly thin legs as a symbol of society's expectations for women. Set in a small Ghanaian village, the narrative combines humour, innocence, and sharp social commentary to deliver an important message about female empowerment and self-discovery.
The story is set in post-independence Ghana, a period when the nation was navigating between preserving traditional cultural values and embracing modernisation. This historical context is crucial for understanding the tensions between characters representing different generational perspectives.
Plot summary
The story follows Adjoa, who lives with her mother and grandmother (Nana) in a small Ghanaian village. From early on, Adjoa becomes aware that adults frequently discuss her "thin legs" with concern and criticism. Her grandmother is particularly vocal about this, believing that according to traditional Ghanaian standards, a proper woman must have thick, strong legs to bear children successfully. In this cultural context, thin legs suggest physical weakness and inadequacy as a future mother.
Despite listening to these conversations with confusion, Adjoa doesn't fully understand the cultural significance behind the criticism of her body. However, she remains a spirited and curious child, eager to learn and prove herself. When her school organises a track and field competition, Adjoa surprises everyone by excelling in running events. Her thin legs, previously seen as a source of shame and mockery, suddenly become her greatest strength and advantage.
The transformation of Adjoa's "weakness" into her greatest strength is the story's central turning point. This moment challenges not only the characters' perceptions but also the reader's understanding of how society defines female worth and capability.
This unexpected victory forces her grandmother to reconsider her beliefs and even show pride in her granddaughter's abilities. The story concludes on a hopeful note as Adjoa reflects on her changing self-image and discovers that there are many different ways to be strong and capable, challenging the restrictive gender roles imposed by society.
Character analysis
Adjoa
Adjoa serves as both the central character and narrator of the story. Her innocent yet observant voice provides readers with insight into how children process and understand societal expectations. Key characteristics include:
- Innocent but perceptive: She notices adult conversations about her body but doesn't fully grasp their implications
- Determined and spirited: Despite criticism, she remains curious and eager to prove herself
- Transformative journey: She evolves from feeling confused about her body to embracing her unique strengths
- Representative voice: Her experiences reflect broader issues of how young girls internalise societal messages about their worth
Nana (grandmother)
Nana represents the traditional worldview and cultural expectations within the family structure. Her character demonstrates:
- Traditional beliefs: She holds firm views about femininity, motherhood, and physical appearance rooted in cultural tradition
- Genuine concern: Her criticism of Adjoa's legs stems from cultural beliefs rather than malice
- Capacity for growth: Her reaction to Adjoa's success shows she can adapt and change her perspectives
- Generational tensions: She embodies the conflict between preserving tradition and embracing new possibilities
Character Analysis: Nana's Transformation
Step 1: Initial position - Nana criticises Adjoa's thin legs based on traditional beliefs about female bodies
Step 2: Conflict - Adjoa's success in running challenges these beliefs
Step 3: Resolution - Nana shows pride in her granddaughter's achievement, demonstrating character growth
Adjoa's mother
Though largely silent throughout the narrative, Adjoa's mother represents an important transitional figure:
- Caught between worlds: She exists between traditional expectations (represented by Nana) and modern possibilities
- Passive presence: Her silence suggests either acceptance of traditional views or quiet resistance to them
- Influence on family dynamics: Her presence shapes Adjoa's understanding of womanhood and family relationships
Thematic analysis
Gender expectations and the female body
The story's central conflict revolves around societal judgments about women's physical appearance. Adjoa's thin legs become a symbol of how gendered expectations are placed upon female bodies from a very young age. The story critiques how these expectations:
- Limit girls' self-perception and confidence
- Pressure them to conform to specific physical ideals
- Define women's worth based on their reproductive potential
Textual Analysis: Adjoa's Voice
The story includes Adjoa's frustrated observation: "I don't understand why grown-ups are always talking about legs and what they can or cannot do."
This quote demonstrates:
- The child's confusion about adult preoccupations with physical appearance
- The arbitrary nature of beauty standards when viewed through innocent eyes
- How societal expectations can seem illogical to those not yet fully socialised into them
Voice and empowerment
Although Adjoa is only seven years old, the story fundamentally explores finding one's voice and claiming personal agency. Her narration demonstrates:
- Wonder and emerging self-awareness
- The power of self-definition versus accepting others' judgements
- How winning the race becomes a turning point that affirms her body's value
- The importance of recognising individual strengths and potential
Female solidarity and change
Rather than presenting conflict between women as insurmountable, the story shows hope for understanding and growth. Nana's eventual pride in Adjoa suggests that:
- Generational differences can be bridged through mutual respect
- Traditional views can evolve when confronted with new evidence
- Women can support each other once outdated beliefs are questioned
- Change is possible within families and communities
The story avoids the trap of depicting women as inherently antagonistic to each other. Instead, it shows how cultural conditioning affects women's relationships and demonstrates that these patterns can be broken through understanding and evidence of new possibilities.
Coming of age
"The Girl Who Can" functions as a bildungsroman (coming-of-age story) in miniature form. Adjoa's transformation includes:
- Moving from insecurity to confidence about her body
- Discovering her unique talents and abilities
- Learning that strength takes many different forms
- Understanding that she can define herself rather than accepting others' definitions
A bildungsroman is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood. Despite its brevity, "The Girl Who Can" contains all the essential elements of this genre.
Style and narrative technique
First-person narration
The story uses first-person point of view, which creates intimacy and authenticity in the narrative. This technique:
- Gives readers direct access to Adjoa's thoughts and feelings
- Makes her innocent yet intelligent voice believable and engaging
- Allows for humourous and touching observations about adult behaviour
- Creates accessibility while subtly challenging complex social issues
Simple yet profound language
Aidoo employs straightforward language that reflects a child's perspective while addressing sophisticated themes. This approach:
- Makes the story accessible to various audiences
- Allows deep ideas to emerge naturally through simple observations
- Demonstrates how children process complex social messages
- Creates emotional impact through understated moments
Symbolism
Thin legs
Adjoa's legs function as the story's central symbol, representing:
- Initial weakness: Society's judgement and perceived inadequacy
- Hidden strength: Talent and potential that others cannot see
- Transformation: From source of shame to source of pride and achievement
Running
The act of running symbolises:
- Freedom: Liberation from restrictive expectations
- Agency: Taking control of one's own narrative and abilities
- Self-discovery: Finding personal strengths and capabilities
Symbolic Analysis: The Transformation of "Thin Legs"
Stage 1: Criticism - The thin legs represent societal disapproval and perceived inadequacy
Stage 2: Discovery - Through running, the legs reveal their hidden strength and purpose
Stage 3: Triumph - The legs become a source of pride and achievement, reversing their symbolic meaning
This transformation mirrors Adjoa's journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance and empowerment.
Prize/award
The competition prize represents:
- Recognition: Acknowledgement of ability that challenges assumptions
- Validation: Proof that physical differences can be advantages
- Achievement: Success that redefines what it means to be capable
Feminist perspective
From a feminist reading, the story critiques internalised misogyny and body shaming that women often perpetuate amongst themselves. Nana's critical comments reflect how cultural beliefs about femininity are frequently passed down by women themselves, rather than just imposed by men.
Critical Feminist Reading
The story demonstrates how patriarchal values are often transmitted through women's relationships with each other, particularly across generations. This makes the feminist struggle more complex, as it requires women to examine and challenge beliefs they may have internalised and perpetuated unconsciously.
However, Aidoo also demonstrates the potential for women to support and uplift each other once these limiting beliefs are questioned and challenged. Adjoa's triumph represents a feminist moment that asserts girls can be valued for much more than their physical appearance or future reproductive roles. The story redefines what it means to be a girl who "can" succeed and thrive.
Postcolonial context
Set in post-independence Ghana, the story reflects a nation balancing modernisation, colonial legacy, and cultural preservation. The characters embody this tension:
- Nana represents tradition: Preserving cultural values and beliefs
- Adjoa represents new possibilities: Education, sports, and personal ambition as paths for reshaping postcolonial identity
- The school setting: Modern institutions providing new opportunities for young people
Postcolonial Context
Ghana gained independence in 1957, making it one of the first African countries to achieve independence from colonial rule. The story reflects the challenges of this transitional period, where traditional African values encountered modern educational systems and changing social structures.
This context shows how postcolonial societies navigate between maintaining cultural identity and embracing progress, particularly regarding gender roles and women's opportunities.
Literary significance
"The Girl Who Can" demonstrates Ama Ata Aidoo's skill in creating a deceptively simple story that addresses complex themes of gender, tradition, identity, and empowerment. The narrative remains relevant both within African literature and in global conversations about gender equality and agency.
The story teaches readers that there are multiple ways to be strong and successful, and that true growth comes from recognising and nurturing individual potential rather than conforming to traditional expectations.
Key Points to Remember:
- Adjoa's transformation: From feeling ashamed of her thin legs to celebrating them as her source of strength in running
- Nana's character development: Shows how traditional views can change when confronted with evidence of new possibilities
- Central symbol: Thin legs represent society's judgement transformed into individual triumph
- Key themes: Gender expectations, finding one's voice, female solidarity, and coming of age in postcolonial Ghana
- Narrative technique: First-person narration creates intimacy while addressing complex social issues through a child's perspective
- Feminist significance: Challenges internalised misogyny while showing potential for women's solidarity and mutual support
- Postcolonial relevance: Reflects tensions between tradition and modernity in post-independence African society