The Role of Gender in Literary Works: A Review

Paper
By: John Carlo Yao (12-STEM)

From this day and age, there have been a lot of academic research regarding the topic of
gender in literature. As a means to explore the complex function of gender in literary works, we
will envision how The Role of Gender in Literary Works affects social attitudes, character
development, and other principles that affect this phenomenon. We can learn a lot about the
complexity of human identity and the social norms that influence how we view gender by
examining how it is portrayed in various literary works. These gender-based expectations have
the potential to either support current standards or act as a potent counterweight against them.
For instance, characters who reject gender norms frequently work as agents of change in the
story, encouraging readers to reconsider traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity.

Gender has a vital role on how characters prosper and develop. Individuals often make
use of gender to take part on characteristics, expectations, and roles related to their characters.
These demands may either support or contradict societal standards. For instance, characters that
reject gender norms like conformity and deviance. Characters who reject gender norms
frequently work as agents of change in the story, encouraging readers to reconsider traditional
ideas of masculinity and femininity.

Numerous literary works feature patriarchal or matriarchal cultures in which characters'

positions and behavior are determined by their gender. They may frequently act as a setting
through which characters must go, emphasizing the constraints or privileges connected to their
gender identification. Furthermore, the first-person perspective storytelling gives readers a direct
peek into a character's gendered point of view, which promotes understanding and compassion.

Literary works not only reflect societal perspectives on gender but also help to shape
them. Through their writing, authors have the ability to clear up prejudice and misconceptions.
Literature may promote an inclusive and democratic culture by depicting a variety of real-life
gender situations. However, it is important to recognize that historical and cultural settings have
a big impact on how gender is portrayed in literature. Authors who explore the complexities of
gender give their characters life by allowing readers to identify with their difficulties, successes,
and weaknesses. By questioning established beliefs about gender roles and identities, this link
can serve as an encouragement for empathy and understanding.

The image of gender in literature is a rich and complicated topic that is always changing
in line with society's attitudes and standards. It affects how we see and interact with the world
around us, character development, story structure, and more. Literature acts as a window and a
mirror, reflecting how we perceive gender while providing options for study and change. This
ongoing relationship between literature and society ensures that gender remains a vital and
enduring part of storytelling. There are many potential for investigation and change in our larger
societal context because of the widespread effect of gender, which affects not only character
development and story structure but also the larger structure through which we view and connect
with the world around us.

References:

Butler, Judith. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge

Showalter, Elaine. (1985). The Female Tradition in Literature: Options of Feminist Criticism.
Croom Helm.

Woolf, Virginia. (1929). A Room of One's Own. Harcourt, Brace and Company.

Cixous, Hélène. (1976). The Laugh of the Medusa. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and
Society, 1(4), 875-893.

Hooks, Bell. (1981). Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism. South End Press.