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Screaming in Silence: Narrative Voice in Latvian Writer Gundega Repše’s Fiction
Get PDFThe contemporary field of narratology delineates narrative voice as a complex effect of formal and pragmatic elements such as the point of view presented, focalization, tone, modality, and the spatiotemporal models of narrative. The intricate nature of narrative voice arises from its reliance on pragmatic parameters through which it articulates the author’s intentions, ideologies, and values. Consequently, the narrative voice reaches into the extratextual realm, assuming the role of a medium for thematization and value judgement. With a focus on the contemporary Latvian writer Gundega Repše’s novels Īkstīte (Thumbelina) (2000) and Alvas Kliedziens (The Tin Scream) (2002), this paper investigates the functions of narrative voice using the framework of feminist narratology and the French feminist theory of écriture féminine (feminine writing). Both novels depict a quest for the integrity of a female autodiegetic narrator and reflect on women’s difference as an agonizing and complex process. In the novel Īkstīte, the self-discovery of the woman protagonist ends in a loss of the subject’s integrity and the disruption of language. Her failed story and the disruption of language that she experiences can be interpreted as essential symptoms of women’s cultural condition, and the novel thereby suggests the importance of solidarity and raising collective awareness about violence against women. In Alvas Kliedziens, the protagonist’s diary unveils the structure of trauma and psychosis in the woman subject as Rugetta struggles against the physical and emotional violence inflicted by the Soviet school, where teachers and learners were involved in a system of surveillance and mutual informing. The dramatic trajectory and tragic denouement of both novels position the integrity of women not merely as a source of alternative cultural and social visions but as a horizon for individual and cultural aspirations
Unpacking Affect in Taylor Swift’s Feminism
Get PDFWhile affective feminism and Taylor Swift’s feminist engagement have been explored in various contexts, there remains a gap in scholarly research examining how Swift transitions affect into explicit feminist practice. This paper aims to investigate how Swift utilizes a range of emotions, from negative to positive, to express her feminist sentiments, while also examining the limitations of these expressions and possible complementary strategies from her fanbase. The first section of the paper employs a theoretical framework based on affective feminism by incorporating Chadwick’s (2021) concept of “discomfort” as a valuable epistemological tool in feminist practice to contextualize Swift’s political emergence in 2018. Building on Malatino’s (2021) critique of feminist coalitions and Doan’s (2001, 2021) discussions on intersectional challenges faced by transgender communities, intersectionality is applied as a framework to assess the inclusivity of Swift’s feminist stance. This intersectional approach also examines the potential for Swift’s fandom to evolve into a more transformative activist force. The methodology includes textual analysis of Swift’s social media posts, lyrics from selected songs, and her statement accompanying the petition for The Equality Act in 2019. Additionally, media analysis of the documentary Miss Americana and other media coverage of Swift’s feminist activities provides a broader context. The paper argues that: 1) Swift’s engagement with discomfort has driven her toward self-education in feminism and activism thus facilitating her shift from an apolitical figure to a vocal feminist advocate; 2) Her use of “we” and “all” narratives may inadvertently homogenize marginalized groups and render transgender people more invisible; and 3) To advance more inclusive and transformative feminist activism, collaboration between Swift, her team, and her fanbase is recommended to further develop Swift’s fandom activism as a civic and political force. Future research may consider exploring other artist-activists and diverse fan responses and employing quantitative methodologies to enhance understanding of the interaction between fandom and celebrity activism
“We Haven’t Our Feet in the Soil”: Jamesian Feminism and Cosmopolitanism in The Portrait of a Lady
Get PDFThis article reconsiders feminist themes in Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady by analyzing American expatriate women characters who experience liminal situations that create both alienation and opportunity. James’s expatriate women feel displaced and marginalized, yet this othering also allows them a freedom from European customs. This position of alterity or liminality allows for the women characters in James’s work to develop independence and confidence not just in themselves but also in their native culture. James’s nuanced observation and sympathy with his women characters result in an androgynous literary expression, intricately connecting his feminism and cosmopolitanism. By examining the unique circumstances of the women portrayed in Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady, the article reshapes cultural perspectives and promotes respect for cultural differences encompassing race, nationality, and gender
Accounting for the Harms of Image-Based Sexual Abuse in Ireland’s Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act
Get PDFWith the ubiquitousness of technology and advancements in Artificial Intelligence image manipulation, Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA) is increasing worldwide. IBSA refers to the creation and/or distribution of sexual images without consent or the threat to create or distribute such images. Technological developments make it challenging to keep pace with the nature and extent of technology-facilitated crimes and their harms. In this paper, I utilise a feminist lens to examine and synthesise the existing literature on IBSA and its harms. Using this synthesis, I critically analyse the Republic of Ireland’s Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act (HHCRO), colloquially called Coco’s Law, and the extent to which it accounts for the harms of IBSA found in the literature. The HHCRO criminalises distributing, publishing, or threatening to distribute or publish intimate images without consent in Ireland. Legislation plays a crucial role in acknowledging the harms of IBSA, helping victim-survivors seek justice for victimisation, and holding perpetrators of IBSA accountable. Hence, I address two research questions: (1) What does existing literature say about the harms of IBSA? (2) To what extent does the HHCRO account for these harms? By reviewing 130 pieces of the literature identified through keyword/phrase searches on online databases, I establish that the harms of IBSA are multiple, including physical harm; psychological harm; interpersonal/social harm; harm to sexual autonomy; economic harm; harm to safety, freedom, and privacy; and harm to society. I find that the HHCRO does not account for the full extent of the harms caused by IBSA. The HHCRO lacks a victim-survivor-centric approach to harm, fails to reflect an embodied understanding of the harm caused by IBSA, and does not approach harm from an intersectional perspective. My recommendations to redress these limitations include familiarising the judiciary with feminist legal approaches and utilising a lens that centers victims and survivors in applying the HHCRO and sentencing decisions. This paper undertakes a critical feminist analysis of key Irish legislation, contributing to emerging IBSA scholarship and offering an important addition to social and legal discourse
The Emancipation of a Harem Girl: Resisting the Gendered Division of Space in Wafa Faith Hallam’s The Road from Morocco
Get PDFThis article examines the challenging of Orientalist and Western discourses and of patriarchal authority over Eastern women in Wafa Faith Hallam’s memoir The Road from Morocco. The conventional representation of these women is revisited as Saadia in the memoir debunks the passivity and docility with which they are associated by exercising her agency and trespassing the sacred cultural and physical frontiers. Regardless of being introduced to confinement in the private space of a harem since her infancy, Saadia manages to liberate herself first through leaving the allegedly sacred frontiers of the house and trespassing in public space which is discursively assumed to belong to men, and second through dismantling the patriarchal authority of her husband by applying for a divorce and starting a business in spite of his refusal. This article argues that the representation of Saadia invalidates the discursive portrayals of Moroccan women as being passive and confined in the domestic private space of harem and deconstructs patriarchal authority
Women’s Microenterprise and the SDGs: Reframing Success in Women’s Economic Development in Sri Lanka
Get PDFThis research utilizes a capability approach to query the extent to which dominant conceptualizations of women’s micro-entrepreneurship enhance both economic and social development outcomes. Microenterprise programs speak directly to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding poverty (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), and decent work (SDG 8). However, microenterprise programs are embedded in institutional and normative definitions that limit women as “entrepreneurial,” thereby affecting women’s microenterprise motivations, characteristics, and capabilities. As a result, women’s enterprises continue to be largely informal and home-based subsistence enterprises that offer a low-quality employment option and fail to deliver “empowerment” outcomes. Data from focus group participants and econometric analysis of survey responses from 487 women micro-entrepreneurs in Kandy, Sri Lanka are used to compare women’s microentrepreneurial success in terms of both financial and empowerment outcomes. A novel conceptualization of the capabilities approach is presented with an original analytical framework that critically redefines enterprise success in terms of women’s empowerment: whether microentrepreneurship expands the menu of what women can be and do in their households and communities. In seeking to uncover differences among women, this work steps away from the more common comparison of men versus women. An iterative approach to defining success outcomes establishes that adding empowerment indicators to definitions of success highlights unique gender constraints on women’s micro-entrepreneurship not shown by purely financial outcome measures. The data analysis results suggest that women’s microentrepreneurship is significantly impacted by discriminatory social constraints and household norms that reduce both their enterprise success and potential for increasing empowerment
Attitudes of Unmarried Men and Women towards Stay-at-Home Husbands in Indian Society
Get PDFAlthough at a slow rate, the gender roles of women are changing in India. Today, Indian women are assuming responsibilities far beyond those of a traditional household. However, the question arises: are the gender roles of men changing? Is Indian society open to the idea of a stay-at-home husband? To address these concerns, we conducted interviews with unmarried women and men, followed by a thematic analysis. Ninety-seven percent of male respondents expressed reluctance towards becoming a stay-at-home husband, while 86% of female respondents indicated a hesitancy to marry someone with that inclination. Major reasons cited by males included “gender role conditioning,” “embarrassment,” and “power imbalance in the relationship.” Female respondents cited those three reasons as well, but also added “financial burden on one partner” and “natural liking towards ambitious men” as the primary reasons for not wanting to marry a stay-at-home husband. The article concludes with suggestions for action items that Indian schools, media, and government can take to attempt to change gender roles and attitudes toward stay-at-home-husbands
