Social, Cultural and Ideological Representations in Amma Darko’s Beyond the Horizon

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/10/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 5 (2026)

Article No.

069

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-6F4GL2CS

Received

27 Sep 2026

Views

34

Downloads

12

Abstract

This study analyses the social, cultural, and ideological representations of women in Amma Darko’s Beyond the Horizon, focusing on Mara’s experiences as she migrates from Ghana to Germany in pursuit of improved living conditions. It investigates the interplay of patriarchy, cultural expectations, migration, economic dependence, and sexual exploitation in shaping women’s circumstances within the novel. The analysis contends that Darko depicts female oppression as rooted not only in individual male actions but also in broader social, cultural, economic, and ideological structures that reinforce women’s obedience and dependence. Mara’s marriage to Akobi exemplifies the unequal power dynamics inherent in patriarchal unions, while her migration to Europe demonstrates that relocation does not inherently provide freedom or economic progress. Rather, her vulnerability is exacerbated by deception, isolation, financial abuse, and coerced prostitution. The study employs Womanism as its theoretical framework, emphasising its focus on the dignity, survival, economic empowerment, and self-determination of African women, as well as its advocacy for cooperation and mutual respect between genders. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates how Darko critiques the commodification of women’s bodies and labour and challenges cultural and ideological systems that legitimise male dominance. The findings suggest that authentic female liberation necessitates economic independence, personal autonomy, social recognition, and the transformation of unequal gender relations.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.