Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Faculty Member Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
2 PhD Candidate in Arabic Language and Literature, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
3 Ferdowsi University of MashAssistant Professor, Faculty Member of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iranhad
Abstract
The postmodern novels Black suits you. by Ahlam Mosteghanemi and I Turn Off the Lights by Zoya Pirzad portray the lives of women suffering under patriarchal societies and struggling with the sorrow of unlived lives. The significance of this study lies in the fact that both novels powerfully illustrate the oppression faced by women, making them valuable resources for feminist analysis. Using content analysis as its methodology, this research aims to highlight prominent examples of patriarchy and misogyny, the influence of male-dominated norms on the development of the main female characters, and women's attempts to reclaim feminist values in Algerian and Iranian contexts. Findings suggest that the major feminist themes in both novels include: gender inequality, various forms of violence against women by men, marriage as a perceived achievement for women, female participation in political life, and rivalry among women. In the first novel, psychological abuse by men is prevalent; in the second, women are shown to fully submit to men in pursuit of marriage. The third theme reflects women's awakening and fight for their rights, while the last one illustrates how women defend patriarchal norms as a result of internalized competition and confrontation among themselves.
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