"Strength in the Face of Gender-Based Violence: A Literary Analysis of Maya Angelou’s *Still I Rise*"

This article critically analyses Maya Angelou’s poem "Still I Rise" in relation to gender-based violence (GBV), examining how the poem engages with themes of oppression, resistance, and empowerment. Through close reading, the study highlights Angelou's use of metaphor and repetition as tools for illustrating the ongoing defiance of women subjected to systemic violence and societal silencing. By framing the speaker’s voice as a declaration of autonomy and dignity, the poem is positioned as a counter-narrative to victimhood, offering insight into the ways literary texts contribute to the context of GBV. This analysis situates Still I Rise in addressing and challenging the effects of gender-based violence on women.