Gender Studies - Page 2

Construction of Ideal Self in Salman Rushdie’s Victory City

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V. R. Amirthavarshini1 & R. Bhuvaneswari2*
1,2 School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vandalur – Kelambakkam Road, Chennai – 600127, Tamil Nadu, India. *Corresponding Author

 Rupkatha Journal, Special Issue on Poetics of Self-construal in Postcolonial Literature, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n5.15
[Article History: Received: 12 November 2023. Revised: 29 December 2023. Accepted: 30 December 2023. Published: 30 December 2023]
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Abstract

Indian literature often employs mystic characters to reflect sociopolitical themes. The central narrative of Salman Rushdie’s Victory City (2023) revolves around Pampa Kampana, a young female protagonist. Through mystical direction, she builds an empire and uses poetry to pass on her cultural legacy. The objective of this research is to demonstrate Pampa’s progression using the framework of self-construal theory. Nevertheless, her interaction with diverse personalities and surrounding settings during her 247-year lifespan demonstrates her interdependent construal. Her character arc changes significantly as she goes from being a young orphan who lost her family and experienced tragedy to being a resolute queen and mother of Bisnaga City. Her pursuit of the throne within the societal constraints of gender showcases her resolute nature as an individual. External variables cause her self-construal to become unstable. Her journey, from being a vulnerable orphan who experienced physical abuse to becoming a champion for gender equality in Bisnaga, demonstrates her remarkable resilience. The research highlights how Pampa Kampana eschews independence in favour of interdependence when navigating social dynamics, familial ties, and cultural norms of human civilization. It mirrors the struggles and journey faced by most women.

Keywords: Salman Rushdie, Historical fiction, Narratives, Identity, Power, Self-construal theory.

Sustainable Development Goals: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Gender Equality
Citation: Amirthavarshini, V. R. & Bhuvaneswari, R. (2023). Construction of Ideal Self in Salman Rushdie’s Victory City. Rupkatha Journal 15:5. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n5.15 

Portrayal of Patriarchal Subjugation of Women in the Selected Works of Anita Nair

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Divyani Sharma1*    & Swati Chauhan2  
1,2 Department of English, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, India

Rupkatha Journal, Special Issue on Poetics of Self-construal in Postcolonial Literature, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n5.08
[Article History: Received: 12 November 2023. Revised: 26 December 2023. Accepted: 27 December 2023. Published: 29 December 2023]
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Abstract
This study will investigate how patriarchy works as a vehicle for women’s subjugation. Many female authors were born within a predominately patriarchal environment, where women have historically been subservient to socially imposed norms. Anita Nair has emerged as one of India’s most committed modern authors. She freely expresses her views about women in autocratic Indian culture. She also offers insight into how society views women and what it expects of them. The paper will portray women’s sufferings and the status of women in society. It will also shed light on the importance of education. The idea of ‘half’ by Simone De Beauvoir in her work The Second Sex will illuminate the concept of self. The paper will highlight the shifting scenarios of women and how new women transcend the confines of patriarchal setup and create new identities through Anita Nair’s novels- Ladies Coupe, Mistress, and The Better Man.

Keywords: Freedom, Individualism, Modernism, Patriarchy, Tradition, Womanhood.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality
Citation: Sharma, D. & Chauhan, S. (2023). Portrayal of Patriarchal Subjugation of Women in the Selected Works of Anita Nair. Rupkatha Journal 15:5. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n5.08 

Breaking the Bias: Gender Fairness in LLMs Using Prompt Engineering and In-Context Learning

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Satyam Dwivedi1* , Sanjukta Ghosh2 , Shivam Dwivedi3
1,2,3 HSS, IIT BHU, India. *Corresponding author. 

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.10
[Article History: Received: 31 October 2023. Revised: 06 December 2023. Accepted: 07 December 2023. Published: 14 December 2023]
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Abstract

Large Language Models (LLMs) have been identified as carriers of societal biases, particularly in gender representation. This study introduces an innovative approach employing prompt engineering and in-context learning to rectify these biases in LLMs. Through our methodology, we effectively guide LLMs to generate more equitable content, emphasizing nuanced prompts and in-context feedback. Experimental results on openly available LLMs such as BARD, ChatGPT, and LLAMA2-Chat indicate a significant reduction in gender bias, particularly in traditionally problematic areas such as ‘Literature’. Our findings underscore the potential of prompt engineering and in-context learning as powerful tools in the quest for unbiased AI language models.

Keywords: Prompt engineering, In-context learning, Gender bias, Large Language Models, Equitable content, Bias mitigation strategies.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality
Citation: Dwivedi, S., Ghosh, S., Dwivedi, S. (2023). Breaking the Bias: Gender Fairness in LLMs Using Prompt Engineering and In-Context Learning. Rupkatha Journal 15:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.10 

Exploring Collective Experiences: Menstruation-related Memes and Menstrual Narratives in Social Media as an Avant-garde Form of Life Writing

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Josiya P Shaju1* , Jyotsna Sinha2  & Soni Joseph3  
1,2,3 Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India.
* Corresponding author

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.09
[Article History: Received: 15 October 2023. Revised: 30 November 2023. Accepted: 01 December 2023. Published: 02 December 2023]
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Abstract

The increasing prominence of social media as a platform for collective expression has facilitated the sharing of diverse experiences, including emotions, challenges, and circumstances, within distinct social groups. Notable hashtag campaigns such as #Metoo, #HappytoBleed, #TimesUp, #HeForShe, #EverydaySexism, and #IWillGoOut exemplify this trend, as they address pertinent issues concerning women’s rights and gender equality. In this context, menstruation narratives, communicated through various mediums such as stories, oral traditions, myths, and videos, are significant in conveying the collective experiences of menstruating individuals, and fostering camaraderie and support among those who share similar encounters. The advent and widespread utilization of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, have provided menstruating individuals with an accessible avenue to share their experiences, concerns, struggles, and anxieties through diverse content formats, such as written posts, images, video blogs, and memes. Notably, memes have emerged as a particularly popular medium for articulating collective life experiences, encompassing the sphere of menstruation. Widely disseminated on social media, these memes have become influential tools for communication, encapsulating shared sentiments in a visually engaging and often humorous manner. Against this backdrop, this research paper scrutinizes social media’s emergence as a novel platform for collective life expressions, with a specific focus on menstrual memes. It delves into the realm of life writing, exploring the varied ways in which menstruating individuals utilize social media to articulate their experiences. Additionally, it sheds light on the significant communicative potential of memes on menstruation, exemplifying their capacity to foster meaningful dialogues and challenge the societal stigma surrounding this natural phenomenon.

Keywords: collective experiences, life writing, menstruation, menstruation-related memes, social media.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality
Citation: Shaju, J.P., Sinha, J. & Joseph, S.  (2023). Exploring Collective Experiences: Menstruation-related Memes and Menstrual Narratives in Social Media as an Avant-garde Form of Life Writing. Rupkatha Journal 15:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.09 

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Disrupting the Binary: An Argument for Cybernetic Feminism in Deconstructing AI’s Gendered Algorithms

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560 views

Mohammad Rahmatullah1*  & Tanu Gupta2  
1Research Scholar (English), Institute of Liberal Arts & Humanities, Chandigarh University. Corresponding author.
2Professor (English), Institute of Liberal Arts & Humanities, Chandigarh University

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.07
[Article History: Received: 23 October 2023. Revised: 18 November 2023. Accepted: 19 November 2023. Published: 26 November 2023]
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Abstract

This research paper embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the complex interplay between gender biases and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, framed through the lens of cybernetic feminism. Drawing on a rich body of interdisciplinary literature, the paper critically examines how biases are not mere reflections of existing societal norms but are intricately woven into the very architecture of algorithms. The paper delves into various sectors impacted by these biases, including healthcare and employment, and underscores the ethical and policy implications arising from the use of biased algorithms. It argues for a multi-pronged, interdisciplinary approach to address these biases, highlighting the dynamic and evolving role of cybernetic feminism as both a methodological and ethical framework. The paper also outlines potential avenues for future research, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies and a broader understanding of intersectional identities. By synthesizing key insights from seminal works in AI ethics, feminist theory, and legal studies, this paper serves as an urgent call to action, advocating for a more equitable digital future through concerted efforts across technological, ethical, and policy domains.

Keywords: cybernetic feminism, gender biases, artificial intelligence, ethical and policy implications, interdisciplinary approach

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality
Citation: Rahmatullah, M. & Gupta, T. (2023). Disrupting the Binary: An Argument for Cybernetic Feminism in Deconstructing AI’s Gendered Algorithms. Rupkatha Journal 15:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.07 

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Dismantling France’s Manhood in the Prose Works of Holinshed and Sidney

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Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa    
Qatar University

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.04
[Article History: Received: 19 January 2023. Revised: 05 October 2023. Accepted: 25 October 2023. Published: 28 October 2023]
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Abstract

The socio-political dimension of the word ‘manhood’ is undoubtedly an indication of the superiority and advancement of the English over the rest of the neighboring countries, in particular France. These prose works define what nationalism is. Furthermore, it was also an indication that reflects the pride and supremacy of England and its citizens. This research aims to explore how the Elizabethans, through these two works, dealt with France and how manhood is deployed in their perspective, and how it is relevant to several epithets such as valor and courage. This study conducted a content analysis with the help of the excerpts from the two literary texts. The study concluded that in both literary works, the authors had shown religious and political bigotry and showed the influence of the Elizabethans. It depicted that Elizabethans were superior in having manhood as compared to the Frenchmen.

Keywords: Elizabethans, Holinshed Chronicles, Sidney, France, the French, manhood.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Citation: Al-Mutawa, A. (2023). Dismantling France’s Manhood in the Prose Works of Holinshed and Sidney. Rupkatha Journal 15:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.04 

“I Am Not Just a Man”: Chinese Butterfly’s Identity Anxiety and Ethical Predicament in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly

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Shilong Tao1     & Xi Chen2,*      
1,2 School of Foreign Languages, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
*Corresponding author

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.03
[Article History: Received: 22 September 2023. Revised: 26 October 2023. Accepted: 27 October 2023. Published: 28 October 2023]
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Abstract

M. Butterfly is narrated through the memory of Western white man Rene Gallimard, which makes the audience focus on Gallimard’s behaviors and ignore the Oriental man Song Liling’s emotions, actions, and choices. However, there are many plots portraying Song as a Chinese Butterfly to deconstruct the stereotype of Madame Butterfly. This paper, from the perspective of ethical literary criticism, probes into Song’s brain texts formed in their growth and working experience and analyzes Song’s anxiety and confusion about his multiple and chaotic ethical identities, so as to demonstrate that Song is not a “dragon lady” or a “transvestite”. In China, Song is feminized and marginalized in society as “a son of a prostitute”, “a gay”, and “an Opera actor”. He wants to change the situation, so he becomes “a spy” for the Chinese government and “a lover” for Gallimard. Still, due to the failure of ethical enlightenment in childhood and the cruel social environment in China, Song is trapped in ethical predicaments of “to be or not to be”, struggling in the ethical conflicts between the honor of the individual and the interest of the nation, as well as between the desire for love and the mission from government. The song is a victim of the era and politics, and his identity anxiety and ethical predicament reflect David Henry Hwang’s position as an Asian American playwright and reveal his ethical appeal for gender equality, identity recognition and cultural confidence.

Keywords: M. Butterfly, Chinese Butterfly, ethical literary criticism, brain text, identity anxiety, ethical predicament.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Citation: Tao, S., & Chen, X. (2023). “I Am Not Just a Man”: Chinese Butterfly’s Identity Anxiety and Ethical Predicament in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly. Rupkatha Journal 15:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.03 

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

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Gender Queer: A Memoir. Author: Maia Kobabe. Publication Date: 2019. Pages: 240. Publisher: Lion Forge. ISBN: 978-1-5493-0400-2.

Reviewed by
Anjitha Tom  
Christ (Deemed to be University)

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n4.r01
[First published: 20 October 2023.]
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Gender Queer: A Memoir is one of the most challenged books in the US since its publication in 2019. The life and creative expressions of Maia Kobabe, an American cartoonist, serve to challenge the conventional heterosexual coherence that our society is built upon. Through eir work Gender Queer: A Memoir which is presented in graphic format, Maia recounts eir experiences during childhood and adolescence, grappling with uncertainties surrounding gender identity, sexuality, and the process of coming out. The memoir is composed of a retrospective standpoint after Maia has come to embrace a non-binary, genderqueer identity and identifies as asexual. Keep Reading

Baby Boom amidst Covid-19 Pandemic: of Unwilling Fathers, Painful Motherhood and Poverty in Ozuitem Rural Community, Southeast Nigeria

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Victor Okoro Ukaogo1    & Ogechi Cecilia Ukaogo2
1,2 University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 3, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n3.32
[Article History: Received: 28 July 2023. Revised: 25 Sept 2023. Accepted: 26 Sept 2023. Published: 28 Sept 2023.]
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Abstract

This study interrogates the socio-economic outcomes of the COVID-19 lockdown especially the unexamined theme of the baby boom and unrestrained sexual behavior of teenagers in Ozuitem rural community, Abia State southeast Nigeria. It contends that although the lockdown restricted movements by keeping nearly everybody at home, it inadvertently provided opportunities for the predictably idle teenagers to grow their sexual appetite and experiment with their bodies. This yielded unwilling fathers and painful motherhood. With thirty-five (35) teenage mothers and a colony of male partners as of December 29, 2020, what appeared as a sex bazaar in a sleepy rural community clearly put UNICEF’s prediction of a massive baby boom for Africa between now and 2050 in sharper perspective. Using an admixture of oral interviews, participant-observer method and secondary sources, the study yielded curious and bizarre outcomes particularly the demography of the unwilling fathers, inappropriate rural perceptions and unpalatable insight into the future of the community and the wider society. To achieve this, newspapers, interviews, archival materials and other extant secondary sources have been used for data collection, analysis and the interpretation of results. The paper employs the qualitative method of analysis.

Keywords: Baby Boom, COVID-19, Unwilling Fathers, Teenage Motherhood, UNICEF, Africa.

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Good Health and Well-being, Reduced Inequalities
Citation: Ukaogo, Victor Okoro & Ogechi Cecilia Ukaogo. 2023 Baby Boom amidst Covid-19 Pandemic: of Unwilling Fathers, Painful Motherhood and    Poverty in Ozuitem Rural Community, Southeast Nigeria. Rupkatha Journal 15:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n3.32 

Ecotopia: Ecological Concerns and Alternate Womanspace in Select Novels of Ursula K. Le Guin

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Asish Kr. Charan & Tanu Gupta
1,2Chandigarh University, Punjab, India. 

Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 15, Issue 3, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n3.28
[Article History: Received 10 June 2023. Revised: 17 Sept 2023. Accepted: 18 Sept 2023. Published: 20 Sept 2023.]
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Abstract:

The term ecotopia draws attention to the etymological link between utopia and ecologism, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sustainable relationship with the natural world in the context of an ideal egalitarian society. Literary utopias aim to evoke a longing for a society that differs from the present, playing a crucial role in breaking free from conventional thinking and envisioning alternatives to oppressive social institutions. The concept of green utopias is unthinkable without radical social reforms and changes in culture and lifestyle. Feminist ecotopia proposes a gendered deconstruction and reconstruction of a green utopian society. In her ecotopian novels Always Coming Home and Tehanu, Ursula K. Le Guin explores the relationship between ecologism and utopia. The structure of these novels frequently exhibits an ecotopian sensibility, while their content emphasizes the process of creating a better society. Le Guin’s transgressive concept of utopia and ecology seeks to challenge and subvert the ideological frameworks that support materialist and dominant patriarchal conceptions. It provides feminist writers with a distinct space to imagine transgressive and oppositional ecotopian alternatives, where mothering-related myths and femininized characteristics are valued. This paper delves into how Le Guin’s utopian novels interrogate and deconstruct powerful patriarchal structures, creating a cultural space for women to imagine transgressive and oppositional ecotopian alternatives.

Keywords: Ecotopia, Utopia, Ecology, Feminist Utopia, Terraforming, Yin-Yang, Daoism   

Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Life on Land
Citation: Charan. Asish Kr. & Tanu Gupta. 2023. Ecotopia: Ecological Concerns and Alternate Womanspace in Select Novels of Ursula K. Le Guin. Rupkatha Journal 15:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v15n3.28 

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