Unfolding the Intersection of Trauma and Misogyny: A Black Feminist Critique on Forna’s The Gilded Ones

Abstract

This study takes the reader on an expedition in the realm of The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna for a detailed analysis of trauma and misogyny concerning the black feminist outlook. As the narrative unfolds in the novel the protagonist, Deka redefines herself after being severely betrayed and discriminated against because of her gender, sex, race, and class. But once the reader starts exploring the galaxy of The Gilded Ones it’s hard not to notice the misogyny, discrimination due to gender and class, racism, and sexism endured by marginalized communities and how this narrative catches up to the real-world scenario of Black African American Women. The theory of Maria Root about insidious trauma and misogyny by Bell Hooks refers to harsh degradation directed to subjects whose identity, class, status, gender, and color are not valuable in the eyes of authoritative individuals of society and do not align with the concepts of power, this acts as an authentic pillar for analyzing the work of Namina Forna under the lens of black feminism as the incident and situations of the female characters are put into and how they face these changing circumstances in The Gilded Ones.