Why the novel and story is classified to be a second class citizen

The title of the book itself indicates its overarching theme. As with much of the author’s body of work, this novel is concerned with exposing the difficulties of being part of an oppressed societal group—in this case, an African immigrant to the UK. The groups comprising the oppressed are hardly limited to just one single identifier, as the forces of oppression are realized in the form of racism, misogyny, class, and xenophobia. Emecheta's tone is one of empathy and understanding toward those whose lives are constant struggles against entrenched powers.