Birthing A New Generation of Femininity: Exploring how Black womanhood, shaped by both Black American/British and Nigerian culture, influences perceptions and expression of femininity (through an investigation of global perspectives alongside personal insights) / Emengini “Eme” Chukwuma (2025)

This dissertation explores the layered experiences of Black femininity at the intersection of African and Western cultural expectations. Rooted in autobiographical reflection, the work examines how identity is shaped by navigating multiple cultural frameworks, specifically the tensions and harmonies between Nigerian and Black American/British ideals of womanhood. Drawing from personal experience and collective narratives, the research investigates how African women raised outside the continent embody and negotiate contrasting definitions of femininity. Through movement-based practice and creative inquiry, the work unpacks questions of identity, representation, and cultural inheritance, not to resolve them, but to make space for their complexity. Influenced by the intergenerational strength and quiet resilience of Black women, the dissertation honors the legacy of those who have shaped contemporary understandings of Black womanhood. It serves both as a personal exploration and a tribute to the ongoing contributions of Black women whose existence challenges and expands conventional narratives of femininity.