Gender Studies

Bipolar Disorder and Drug Abuse: A Psychoanalytic Study of Suicidal Ideation and Perception of Women as the ‘Other’ in Leonard Cohen’s “Dress Rehearsal Rag”

Cultural Studies/Gender Studies/Systematic Musicology/V17N32025

1.2K views

Pragati Das^1* & Mita Bandyopadhyay²,
¹Research Scholar, Techno India University, West Bengal & Faculty, PG Dept of English, Bhatter College, Dantan. *Corresponding author.
^2,Assistant Professor, Techno India University, West Bengal.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 3, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n3.05g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Leonard Cohen’s lyric “Dress Rehearsal Rag” from the album Songs of Love and Hate (1971) presents an existential crisis of an artist caught up in the post-war turmoil of the counter-culture in the 1960s. Though not particularly successful as a song in the popular context, the lyric deserves scholarly attention because it can reveal many issues concerned with the general and personal contexts of pop culture. Following this line, this paper will try to investigate how the combination of bipolar disorder and narcotic drug abuse leads the poet to a suicidal rehearsal. It will also explore how this kind of positioning influences his negative perception of women as the ‘Other.’ We will apply Freud’s concepts of the death drive and repression, alongside Lacan’s theories of the Symbolic Order and the “Other” to expose the psychological and relational complexities. Recent research on bipolar disorder and narcotic drug abuse will also be used to illuminate the conditions further.

Keywords: Bipolar Disorder, Drug Abuse, Suicide, Other, Psychoanalysis.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding received.
Article History: Received: 10 April 2025. Revised: 20 November 2025. Accepted: 22 November 2025. First published: 30 November 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Das, P. & Bandyopadhyay, M. (2025). Bipolar Disorder and Drug Abuse: A Psychoanalytic Study of Suicidal Ideation and Perception of Women as the ‘Other’ in Cohen’s “Dress Rehearsal Rag”. Rupkatha Journal, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n3.05g

timepass: Protima Bedi’s Memoir as a Rebuttal to Media

Gender Studies/V17N32025

2.4K views

Ramya M. H.^1* & Shashikantha Koudur²
¹Ph.D. Scholar, School of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management, National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, Surathkal, Srinivasnagar Post, Mangalore – 575025, India. *Corresponding Author
²Professor, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Srinivasnagar post, Mangalore-575025, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 3, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n3.01g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Feminist autobiographical writings often serve the purpose of legitimising the author’s praxis/professional life and partake in the process of reshaping their identity. This article argues that Indian classical dancer Protima Bedi’s posthumously released memoir — an example of ecriture féminine – is a personal space to confide and create a new sense of self. The paper gives a glimpse of Protima’s transforming identities in different stages of her life. This paper tries to explore her memoir as a rebuttal to the media and hullabaloo it created with her persona. Exploring a love-hate relationship between Protima and the media, this article focuses on how the autobiographical writing, traversing through the past and the present, attempts to reclaim the lost ground through legitimisation by confiding.

Keywords: Protima Bedi, memoir, media, rebuttal, ecriture feminine, legitimising, confiding

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 31 March 2025. Revised: 29 August 2025. Accepted: 05 September 2025. First published: 10 September 2025..
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Ramya, M. H. & Koudur, S. (2025). timepass: Protima Bedi’s Memoir as a Rebuttal to Media. Rupkatha Journal, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n3.01g

“Lone are the paths”: A Review of British Women Romantic Poets

British Literature/Gender Studies/V17N22025

1.5K views

Bazla Um E Hani^1* & Zeeshan Ali³
^1,2Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Patna, India. *Corresponding author.
²Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Patna, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.09g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The Romantic Era saw significant advancement and change; it was also characterised by firmly rooted patriarchal beliefs. Women were relegated to the roles of housewives, carers, and wives because they were viewed as inferior to males. Women were excluded from the literary canon and their voices were muted during the period, which was mirrored in the patriarchal values of the literary community. However, female poets like Felicia Hemans, Mary Robinson, and Dorothy Wordsworth expressed their courage in emphasising the wonder of nature and stirred powerful feelings in their audience. They frequently wrote about nature in terms of how it evokes feelings such as pleasure, pain, and desire. They used nature to express their sentiments and experiences. They focused their attention not only on domestic affairs and social obligations but also proved their worth and craftsmanship, gathering experiences of nature’s beauty.

Keywords: Romanticism, male, woman, nature, canon, and culture.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 12 March 2025. Revised: 24 June 2025. Accepted: 27 June 2025. First published: 30 June 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Hani, B. U. E. & Ali, Z. (2025). “Lone are the paths”: A Review of British Women Romantic Poets. Rupkatha Journal, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.09g

Decentering King Lear: Feminist Reperformance, Rural Voices, and Deconstructive Aesthetics in Queen Lear

Gender Studies/Performance Studies

1.9K views

Ahmet Oktan^1*, Sibel Karaduman² & Murad Karaduman³
¹Ondokuz Mayis University. *Corresponding author. ^2,3Akdeniz University.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.08g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

This study analyzes Pelin Esmer’s 2019 documentary film “Queen Lear” in the context of feminist film theory and deconstructive narrative aesthetics. The documentary tells the story of an amateur theater group consisting of peasant women on a tour to the mountain villages of Turkey and their staging of Shakespeare’s famous play King Lear as Queen Lear in their own interpretation. Based on a qualitative research design, we analyze the documentary on two levels. First, the experiences of women through theater are examined as a feminist practice of subjectivation and the director’s approach to this process is questioned. Secondly, the way the director presents this process and the narrative elements she prefers are analyzed in terms of feminist documentary understanding. In summary, we find that Pelin Esmer approaches theater as one of the fields of self-realization for peasant women in her film; that theater functions as a means for them to be liberated to a certain extent from patriarchal codes and social conditions that limit them; and that she presents theatrical performance as a kind of cultural interaction, enrichment and border-crossing experience. Furthermore, we conclude that the deconstructive and original narrative created by using tools such as intertextual, observational, episodic, and layered narrative reinforces the critical attitude of the film. These formal choices reinforce feminist discourse by presenting women’s transformation processes in a non-linear, fragmented, and polyphonic manner. In this way, it is shown how feminist politics can effectively combine with the narrative structures of documentary cinema.

Keywords: Feminist documentary, Deconstructive aesthetics, Feminist subjectivation, Rural women, Queen Lear.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 12 March 2025. Revised: 24 June 2025. Accepted: 26 June 2025. First published: 30 June 2025..
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Oktan, A., Karaduman, S. & Karaduman, M. (2025). Decentering King Lear: Feminist Reperformance, Rural Voices, and Deconstructive Aesthetics in Queen Lear. Rupkatha Journal, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.08g

Reimagining Fathering a Child with Special Needs in a Gendered Context

Gender Studies/V17N22025

2.5K views

Senem GURKAN
Associate Professor, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkiye.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.06g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

This research aims to achieve an in-depth understanding of the roles of fathers who have a child with special needs in the context of gender roles. Conducted through the periods and techniques of the qualitative research paradigm, the data were collected using an in-depth interview technique with a semi-structured interview form, which included socio-demographic questions and some open-ended questions. The participants consist of 21 fathers living in Samsun province and having children with special needs. The results suggest that four themes can be generated from the interviews with fathers, such as egalitarian parenting, a lesser parent with masculine roles, a shift in parental roles and forced maternity of a father. It can be concluded that all the fathers are aware of the burden and heavy work of mothers, some trying to share the responsibilities with their wives, while others believe this is a duty of mothers. In any case, either egalitarian or traditional, the fathers are under the influence of gender stereotypes.

Keywords: Gender roles, child with special needs, father, fathering.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 15 March 2025. Revised: 04 June 2025. Accepted: 04 June 2025. First published: 08 June 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: GURKAN, S. (2025). Reimagining Fathering a Child with Special Needs in a Gendered Context. Rupkatha Journal, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.06g

Sexual Citizenship: Contemporary Challenges of Gender Identity in Mexico

Gender Studies/Queer & LGBT/V17N12025

2.2K views

Sinuhe Estrada-Carmona^1* & Gabriela Isabel Perez Aranda²
¹Faculty of Humanities, Autonomous University of Campeche, México. *Corresponding author
²Faculty of Humanities, Autonomous University of Campeche, México.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 1, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n1.02g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The recognition of sexual diversity and gender identity has gained prominence in contemporary discussions about rights, equality, and social inclusion. This paper examines the most representative arguments of the concept of sexual citizenship and its implications for the rights and experiences of transgender individuals, particularly in Mexico. It undertakes a theoretical exploration that invites critical reflection on the challenges in constructing sexual citizenship based on the binary system of sex and gender, as well as for the study of sexual diversities. In conclusion, the paper suggests that the binary system is currently being surpassed, and the opportunity is opening up to denaturalize, deessentialize, and perhaps debinarize gender identities.

Keywords: Citizenship, Sexual Citizenship, Sexual Rights, Diversity, Gender Discordance.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 15 January 2025. Revised: 26 March 2025. Accepted: 27 March 2025. First published: 31 March 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Estrada-Carmona, S. & Aranda, G. I. P. (2025). Sexual Citizenship: Contemporary Challenges of Gender Identity in Mexico. Rupkatha Journal, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n1.02g

The Defiant Faces: Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy’s Resistance Narratives

Gender Studies/V16N42024

3.6K views

Khum Prasad Sharma
Lecturer in English, Padmakanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.14}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

This study examines the multilayered concept of resistance in Arundhati Roy’s novels The God of Small Things (1997) and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017). By foregrounding the voices of marginalized individuals, Roy critically examines systemic inequalities, caste discrimination, and state violence. While existing literary scholarship acknowledges the victimization and marginalization of subaltern women under traditional gender roles, caste systems, politics, and religion, this research highlights how these women actively resist such injustices. Utilizing theoretical frameworks from Guha, Spivak, Gramsci, and Crenshaw, the paper explores the intersectionality of personal and political resistance. It discusses Roy’s critique of power structures and her advocacy for justice and human dignity. Thus, the study unveils the layers of defiance in Roy’s unique portrayal of varied resistance strategies in her narratives.

Keywords: Resistance, violence, injustices, subaltern consciousness, political resistance, gender and identity.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 20 October 2024. Revised: 25 December 2024. Accepted: 28 December 2024. First published: 31 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Sharma, K. P. (2024). The Defiant Faces: Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy’s Resistance Narratives. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.14

Exploring the Intersectionality of Cisgender Queer Women in Non-WEIRD Contexts

Gender Studies/V16N42024

3.3K views

Aditi Chawla^1* & Grace Maria Jochan²
^1,2 Research Department of Counselling and Psychology, St. Joseph’s University (Bangalore), India. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.13}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The specific challenges faced by cisgender queer women navigating discrimination and marginalization, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts, are rarely addressed in academic literature. This study aims to understand the nuanced experiences of cisgender queer women residing in non-WEIRD contexts, with a particular focus on the intersections of identity, cultural influences, self-acceptance, prejudice, and social location. Drawing on theories like intersectionality, the research highlights the complex interplay between various dimensions of identity and how they shape lived realities. Using a sample of young adults aged 18 to 29 who identify as cisgender queer women, it thematically explores the influence of social and cultural backgrounds on participants’ experiences of sexuality. The findings shed light on the persistent prejudice and stereotyping these women face, rooted in both their sexual orientation and cultural context. By centering these intersections, the research emphasizes the importance of multidimensional approaches in social inquiry and advocacy, fostering greater inclusivity and support for cisgender queer women in non-WEIRD contexts.

Keywords: Intersectionality, cisgender queer women, non-WEIRD contexts, cultural identity, self acceptance, prejudice, stereotyping, thematic analysis.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History:Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 20 December 2024. Accepted: 25 December 2024. First published: 29 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Chawla, A. & Jochan, G. M. (2024). Exploring the Intersectionality of Cisgender Queer Women in Non-WEIRD Contexts. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.13

Unveiling Transgender Narratives: A Critical Analysis of Their Representation in Malayalam Cinema

Gender Studies/V16N42024

3.9K views

Mohamed Rashid VP¹ & Sourav V² & Bangalore Morarji²
¹PhD Scholar, CSSEIP, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad.
²PhD scholar in History, Department of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology
³Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.07}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

For over a century, cinema has been an influential medium through which stories are told, and culture is expressed. Stories come to life through filmmaking and exploring various themes, experiences and perspectives. Film’s visual and narrative elements can shape public opinion, subvert social conventions, provoke thinking and significantly impact the culture and social discourse. This study examines the representation of transgender individuals in Malayalam cinema, analysing the evolving narrative landscape and its societal impact. Regardless of a rich cinematic history dating back to the 1930s, Malayalam films have only recently begun to include transgender themes with depth and sensitivity. The study scrutinises early depictions that often resorted to stereotypes and comedic mockery, contrasting them with contemporary portrayals that uphold understanding and acceptance. By dissecting specific films, this work reveals the changing tides in cultural perception and points out the importance of responsible storytelling in media. This study calls for a continued push towards authentic and respectful representation, emphasising the transformative potential of cinema in shaping public attitudes towards the transgender community. This study used historical, content, and discourse analysis as methodology and representation theory as the theoretical framework to examine the portrayal of transgender in Malayalam cinema.

Keywords: Film Making, Malayalam Cinema, Social Impact, Stereotypes, Transgender Representation.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 19 December 2024. Accepted: 18 December 2024. First published: 23 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: VP, M. R. & V, S. & Morarji, B. (2024). Unveiling Transgender Narratives: A Critical Analysis of Their Representation in Malayalam Cinema. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.07

Exploring Helplessness and Stress Coping Strategies Among Sexual Minority: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gender Studies/V16N42024

1.3K views

Priyambada K. Verma^1* & Yogesh Deshpande²
¹PhD Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, VNIT, Nagpur, India. *Corresponding author
²Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, VNIT, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.04}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The study was conducted on transgender and gay individuals to explore whether the two groups differ on Stress Coping Strategies and Helplessness. The study also assessed the correlation between their Stress Coping Strategies and Helplessness. The study was conducted on 159 participants, 72 gay, and 87 transgender individuals. The data was subjected to correlation and t-test, assuming unequal variance. The correlational analysis revealed that ‘outer wall strategy’ had a negative correlation with ‘inadequacy’ (-0.41), ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.39), and ‘failure to invariants and negative events’ (-0.26) and a positive correlation with ‘problem avoidance and low cognition’ (0.24); ‘diet control’ had a negative correlation with ‘inadequacy’ (-0.29), ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.24) and ‘failure to invariants and negative events’ (-0.23) and ‘avoidance’ had positive correlation with ‘syndrome of cognitive motivational disturbances’ (0.28) and negative correlation with ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.27) and ‘anxious over concern and fruitless tendency to worry’ (-0.20). Further, the findings revealed that transgender individuals (112.85) scored significantly higher on Stress Coping Strategies as compared to gay individuals (101.30). However, there was no significant difference between gay (65.54) and transgender (64.93) with respect to helplessness.

Keywords: Transgender, Gay, Sexual minorities, Correlation, Helplessness, Stress coping strategies.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 19 December 2024. Accepted: 20 December 2024. First published: 25 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Verma, P. K. & Deshpande, Y. (2024). Exploring Helplessness and Stress Coping Strategies Among Sexual Minority: A Cross-Sectional Study. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.04

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

You might be interested in

You might be interested in