Phenomenal Woman

By Maya Angelou
Reviewers
De Guzman, Armina Sophia
Goleña, Ma. Roselle Jhune
Morales, Juvileen
Tiongson, Justine
Ueno, Joyce Anne
 Introduction
• A women of early age was like a slave, they were all completely controlled by men,
even their fathers, brothers, and especially by their husbands as if they were living
just to serve their husband. Women do not have any right for anything. Women
were discriminated especially in terms of work and physical appearance. Woman
were believed to be at home doing the chores and the one who take care for the
family. Many are not believing in the abilities of a woman, and the writer, Maya
Angelou wrote a poem entitled “Phenomenal Woman” which change the
perspective of everyone. Especially the way of women look about themselves. The
author, Maya Angelou, speaks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against
women.
 Objectives
• To know how the early ages viewed women
• To identify the stereotypes for women and how
it’s related to the poem
 Authorship
• Maya Angelou is an American poet, storyteller, activist and auto
biographer.
• Born on April 4th 1928 in St. Louis Missouri
• She was raped at the age of seven years old and become silent for five
years.
• Graduated from high school at the age of 17 and gave birth to a son.
• “I know Why the Caged Bird Sings” was her first auto biographical book.
 Analysis and Discussion
Pretty women wonder The span of my hips, The first stanza conceals about
where my secret lies The stride of my step, the secret of her success.
I’m not cute or built to The curl of my lips.
suit a fashion model’s I’m a woman
size Phenomenally,
But when I start to tell Phenomenal Woman,
them That’s me.
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my
arms
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around
me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet. Men themselves have The grace of my style.
wondered
I'm a woman I'm a woman
What they see in me.
Phenomenally. Phenomenally.
They try so much
Phenomenal woman, Phenomenal woman,
But they can't touch
That's me. That's me.
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The second and third stanza are connected to each
other in the way where in the second stanza states
that although she catches attention from men, they
seem to question why they where attracted to her in
the first place. These two stanzas break the idea
where men only fall for a woman’s looks where no
matter what your status as if you look good, men will
love you.
Now you understand 'Cause I'm a woman For the last stanza, it breaks
Just why my head's not Phenomenally. the way men perceive women
bowed.
Phenomenal woman, as something that’s only a
I don't shout or jump about
That's me. pretty being that sits pretty all
Or have to talk real loud.
day and put on a façade to
When you see me passing
everyone that you are
It ought to make you
proud. “something” when you’re
I say, really not.
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,

In terms of form of the poem, “Phenomenal
Woman” is like a ballad- a free verse narrative.
The poem has no conventional rhymes. The poet
speaks directly in a personal voice. The poem
seems to have a refrain- four last lines in every
stanza are the same, which is very often used in
poems and songs. When you read the poem, you
might think that the writer could have been
inspired by her background in dance as the poem
seems to have a musical aspect. Just like the
writer, the poem seems to be like a liberated
women, because it is free from any poetic norms
or standards.
Imagery was used also by Angelou. It is used to
describe her body with the natural curves, very
feminine. Her style was appropriate style was
appropriate because not everyone may know what
she looked like. This makes the poem very easy to
understand as well as the message.
• One of ideologies presented in the poem is
“feminism”. Maya Angelou was able to
express her pride of being a woman.
Especially in terms of her physical attributes.
It was shown in the second stanza. Maya
Angelou seems to be a goddess to men. The
ideals of a modern woman was clearly
presented.
• Another ideology presented in the third
stanza is that- there are women who seem to
be “mysterious”. That despite being liberated,
men cannot touch her. There are
extraordinary women, who may not be very
beautiful but still her presence could easily be
felt.
 Conclusion
• The researchers found out that compared with the status of women in earlier times, women were
mediocre to that of men, but nowadays women’s state is not that worse. With the world changing at a
fast pace, with the opening up of more and more opportunities for women and with the government
trying its best to give equal status to women, many ways are being paved for women’s empowerment.
• , Maya Angelou, also focuses on being contented and proud of herself. Be confident, like no
judgement can let her down − all women have something to offer. As an African - American woman,
Maya Angelou have suffered getting a lot of discriminations and prejudices. And because of her own
personal life experiences, she got influenced to write inspirational poems that is basically all about
expressing pride as a woman. Feminism approach is perfectly seen on her as an amazing writer and a
truly "Phenomenal Woman". She had reminded us that being beautiful is not all about physical aspects,
but instead it is in a woman's presence.