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@article{189929,
        author = {DR. RANU KHARELIYA},
        title = {Black Womanhood and Self-Definition in Toni Morrison’s Works},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4828-4831},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=189929},
        abstract = {Toni Morrison’s fiction offers a profound reimagining of Black womanhood by centering self-definition as a necessary act of survival, resistance, and cultural affirmation. Writing against a literary tradition that historically marginalized or stereotyped Black women, Morrison constructs female characters who confront racism, patriarchy, internalized oppression, and historical trauma while asserting agency over their identities. This research article examines Morrison’s treatment of Black womanhood through selected novels including The Bluest Eye, Sula, Beloved, and Song of Solomon. It argues that Morrison conceptualizes self-definition not as a fixed achievement but as a continuous, often painful process shaped by memory, body, community, and ancestral history. Drawing upon Black feminist thought, the paper explores how Morrison dismantles imposed definitions of beauty, morality, motherhood, and femininity. Ultimately, the article highlights Morrison’s enduring contribution to American literature by demonstrating how her narratives reclaim Black women’s voices, restore their subjectivity, and redefine womanhood beyond dominant cultural frameworks.},
        keywords = {Toni Morrison, Black Womanhood, Self-Definition, Identity Formation, Black Feminism, African American Literature, Female Subjectivity, Memory, Trauma, Community},
        month = {January},
        }