GENDER AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT IN MARGARET ATWOOD’S ORYX AND CRAKE
Journal Title: Academic Research International - Year 2012, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
The concept of gender came into common parlance during the early 1970’s and is explained to be the feature of subjectivity. It explores that gender identity i.e. both masculinity and femininity is a product of social and cultural discourse which can be appropriated by the person of either gender, irrespective of their sexual identity. The arguments posed by eminent gender critics established that there are no behavioural patterns or traits that can be exclusively labeled as feminine or masculine. By uprooting the domain of gender from body gender theorists shook the very foundation of patriarchy and masculinity as superior and women as inferior. Being a postmodern writer, Canadian author Margaret Atwood offers various ways, mediums, practices, patterns and norms of society and culture that lead to the conditioning of psyche of both men and women that result in the shaping and ‘becoming’ of feminine and masculine gender identities. It is according to the cultural expectations and scripts of femininity and masculinity that both man and woman internalize and mould themselves according to the stereotypes available of each gender identity. Atwood deconstructs the binary of gender/sex in her novel Oryx and Crake and proves that traits known to be masculine can be displayed by women and vice versa. In this paper I’ll unearth and show that how gender identities are unstable and are constructed socially and culturally. I will also explore through both male and female characters that how society and culture influence and mould the identities of men and women according to the constructed stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.
Authors and Affiliations
Shaista Irshad, Niroj Banerji
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP119836
- DOI -
- Views 152
- Downloads 0
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MARKETING TACTICS, RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND CUSTOMER’S LOYALTY IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION INDUSTRY
Relationship marketing, just as the name implies is simply the art of developing a personal relationship with your customers. Anyone can start a business but not everyone can build a strong customer relationship. The g...
ASSOCIATION OF URINE CULTURE AND BLOOD CULTURE RESULTS WITH RECTAL SWAP CULTURE RESULTS IN FEBRILE CASES WITH FLUOROCINOLONE-RESISTANT BACTERIA AFTER PROSTATE BIOPSY
Background: Prostate biopsy is an invasive method for diagnosis of prostate diseases requiring antibiotic use. This study was performed to determine the association of urine culture and blood culture results with rectal...
SELECTED PREDICTORS OF OVERWEIGHT AMONG NIGERIAN KIDS
Flabby looks generally in human beings is as a result of out of shape which is a total product of overweight. Overweight is closely associated with laziness and clumsy look which no one desires. Kids who do not really...
DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-THEFT DOOR SYSTEM FOR SECURITY ROOM
The ultimate purpose of developing an electromagnetic door lock is to enforce security features of the entire building structure, equipped with appropriate management control. In this paper I...
PERSONNEL MOTIVATION AND JOB PERFORMANCE IN SOME SELECTED PUBLISHING HOUSES IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA
The study was conducted to find out the relationship between personnel motivation and job performance in selected Publishing Houses in Maiduguri. 150 questionnaire were distributed to both management and nor management s...