In this dissertation I will examine the notion of gender performativity within the following literary texts of three famous American authors: Willa Cather's "My Antonia" (1918) and "0 Pioneers!" (1913), Ellen Glasgow's "Virginia" (1913) and "Barren Ground" (1925), and Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" (1926) and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937), in this project I will demonstrate how literature shapes, challenge and deconstructs conventional gender norms. These female authors made a significant contribution to American literature in the modern era, particularly by addressing themes of gender roles, social expectations, patriarchy, and female empowerment. Gender identity it is not something fixed, but rather it is culturally and socially constructed that can be performed through repetitive acts and behaviours according to Judith Butler. I will apply gender performativity theory to show how female and male characters in these texts challenge and subvert traditional gender roles, patriarchal orders, and power dynamics of their societies. By doing so, I would argue, the authors question the prevailing gender norms, giving readers an opportunity to explore and understand a different point of view regarding female agency and female empowerment.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Historical and Social Context
1.2 Research Question
1.3 Literature Review
1.4 Theoretical Framework
2 Willa Cather: Challenging Social Norms in American West
2.1 Cather's Androgynous Women
2.2 Representing Masculinity: ‘Little Men’
2.3 Gender Roles in Marriage and Sexual Dynamics
3 Negotiating Gender: Gender Roles in Ellen Glasgow's Virginia and Barren Ground
3.1 Female Characters between Feminine Ideals and the New Woman
3.2 Representing Southern Masculinity
3.3 Gender Roles and Marital Dynamics
4 Beyond Tradition: Gender Roles in Hurston's Sweat and Their Eyes Were Watching God
4.1 Black Women and Gender Dynamics
4.2 Representing Black Masculinity
5 Conclusion
6 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation examines the construction of gender identity and the subversion of traditional gender norms in selected literary works by Willa Cather, Ellen Glasgow, and Zora Neale Hurston through the lens of gender performativity theory.
- Analysis of gender roles in modern American literature.
- Deconstruction of patriarchal structures and social expectations.
- Exploration of female agency, autonomy, and identity construction.
- Examination of masculine characters and their deviation from normative gender performance.
- Investigation into how literature challenges or reinforces societal gender norms.
Excerpt from the Book
Cather's Androgynous Women
After the death of her father, Alexandra becomes the head of her family. She is portrayed as a strong independent woman, masculine not only in her appearance wearing ‘a man's long ulster[...] like a young soldier,’ but also in action and manner, rejecting society's obsession with cultivating, submissive women. When a salesman compliments her, ‘she stabbed him with a glance of Amazonian fierceness,’ which made him feel ‘cheap and ill-used, as if someone had taken advantage of him.’ Through this reaction, she rejects the culture of silence that justifies harassment, and reveals that women can protect themselves and have the autonomy to make decisions regarding their bodies and set boundaries. She constructs and preforms her gender identity through assertiveness and self-fashioning. According to Butler gender is performative, and it can be ‘constituted in time, instituted in an exterior space through a stylized repetition of acts.’
In doing so, Alexandra breaks the gender norms and defies the societal expectations for women, to be submissive and objects for men's pleasure. Moreover, representing the salesman as cheap and ill-used serves to empower the victim and humiliates the offender, forcing him to experience what she would normally experience at the hands of men.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the historical and social context of the study, presents the research question, provides a literature review, and establishes the theoretical framework based on gender performativity.
2 Willa Cather: Challenging Social Norms in American West: The chapter explores how Cather's characters in My Antonia and O Pioneers! defy traditional feminine ideals and patriarchal constraints through performative acts.
2.1 Cather's Androgynous Women: This subchapter focuses on Alexandra Bergson’s independence and her subversion of traditional femininity via masculine attire and assertive behavior.
2.2 Representing Masculinity: ‘Little Men’: This section examines the depictions of male characters in Cather’s West, highlighting their vulnerability and deviation from traditional masculine norms.
2.3 Gender Roles in Marriage and Sexual Dynamics: This part analyzes marital expectations and how characters navigate their desires within the constraints of patriarchal society.
3 Negotiating Gender: Gender Roles in Ellen Glasgow's Virginia and Barren Ground: This chapter investigates how Glasgow portrays the transition of women in Southern society and their struggle against restrictive norms.
3.1 Female Characters between Feminine Ideals and the New Woman: This analysis looks at the roles of women in Glasgow’s novels and their varying degrees of compliance with or resistance to the 'Southern Lady' archetype.
3.2 Representing Southern Masculinity: This section critiques the power structures of patriarchy by analyzing the masculinity of male characters who mirror or deviate from societal expectations.
3.3 Gender Roles and Marital Dynamics: The chapter discusses the complexities of marital relationships and the underlying gender power imbalances in Glasgow's works.
4 Beyond Tradition: Gender Roles in Hurston's Sweat and Their Eyes Were Watching God: This chapter examines Hurston's exploration of African American women’s experiences within the patriarchal South, focusing on agency and self-determination.
4.1 Black Women and Gender Dynamics: This subchapter analyzes the portrayals of Delia and Janie as they navigate oppression and seek liberation from traditional roles.
4.2 Representing Black Masculinity: This section highlights the performative nature of masculinity among Black male characters and its impact on the female protagonists' empowerment.
5 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the main arguments, reaffirming how all three authors utilize literature to contest patriarchal conventions and expand gender categories.
6 Bibliography: Lists all primary texts and secondary sources used in the dissertation.
Keywords
Gender Performativity, Judith Butler, Willa Cather, Ellen Glasgow, Zora Neale Hurston, Patriarchy, Femininity, Masculinity, Gender Roles, American Literature, Agency, Autonomy, Subversion, Social Constructs, Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation explores the construction and deconstruction of gender identity and roles within selective works of Willa Cather, Ellen Glasgow, and Zora Neale Hurston.
What are the central themes covered in this research?
Key themes include the critique of patriarchy, the performance of gender identity, the subversion of social norms, female agency, and the impact of societal expectations on characters.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The primary goal is to demonstrate how literary authors use character actions, language, and behavior to challenge conventional gender roles and redefine the understanding of gender in modern American literature.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The study employs the theory of gender performativity, primarily informed by Judith Butler, to analyze how gender is culturally constructed and perpetually performed through repetitive acts.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body is divided into three chapters, each dedicated to one of the authors, analyzing their specific novels, representations of men and women, and the dynamics of power and marriage in their respective settings.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by terms such as gender performativity, literary analysis, gender roles, subversion, patriarchy, and identity construction.
How does Willa Cather differentiate her female characters from traditional norms?
Cather portrays her characters, such as Alexandra Bergson, as independent and dominant figures who perform roles traditionally associated with masculinity, thereby rejecting submissiveness.
In what way does Glasgow depict the Southern patriarchy?
Glasgow reveals how patriarchal institutions within Southern society enforce rigid norms that limit women’s choices and maintain traditional power imbalances between husbands and wives.
How does Hurston’s work address the intersection of race and gender?
Hurston highlights the specific challenges faced by Black women, who are not only subject to patriarchal norms but also to manifestations of racial segregation and structural exclusion.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding gender performance?
The author concludes that gender is not a fixed identity but a culturally constructed process that individuals can, through persistent, subversive actions, challenge and reshape.
- Quote paper
- Ibrahim Shaaban (Author), 2023, Exploring Gender Performativity in Selected Works of Willa Cather, Ellen Glasgow and Zora Neale Hurston, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1420171
