The Others and Otherings in Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Abstract

Aims: This paper aims to study Maya Angelou’s first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, covering Maya Angelou’s life from childhood until she turned fourteen, to examine the others and the process of othering that were integral to growing up as a Black woman in America during the 1970s.

Methodology and Approaches: The study investigates how Maya Angelou’s experiences reflect broader social dynamics, focusing on the intersections of race, gender, and disability within the same societal structure.

Outcome: The paper highlights how the societal structure of the 1970s imposed various forms of othering on individuals, particularly on those marginalized by race, gender, and disability.

Conclusion and Suggestions: The paper provides insights into the pervasive nature of othering within societal structures, illustrating its impact on those marginalized in American society, particularly in the context of the 1970s. This analysis suggests that the process of othering is a foundational aspect of discrimination, with implications for understanding current social challenges faced by marginalized communities. By examining Angelou’s experiences, the study reveals how personal narratives can illuminate larger cultural issues and suggests that future research might explore similar themes in contemporary settings to understand the ongoing relevance of othering in shaping social identity and belonging.