Hegemonic Masculinity of the Immigrant Other

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is a literature analysis of the novel ‘Honour’, written by Elif Safak in 2011. Hereby, the novel will be analyzed not only as a literary work – with regard to literary devices – but also as a laboratory of social change and conflict, in which existing social issues are projected upon and analyzed within the frameworks of the fictional plot. The main background of this analysis, as in most of her other works will be based on feministic critique. In addition to it, my main goal is not only to descriptively analyze references to contemporary social issues in Turkish society, but to emphasize the novel’s role as a vehicle to challenge established social norms and elicit a critical rethinking. Hereby, the agenda crystallizes around following clusters: cutting back misogyny in Turkey, instilling appreciation of women’s role both in the domestic and public realm and reducing discrimination between boys and girls. In general, through denial of essentialism, discrimination and sexism by the author, I will be utilize her authorship with the aim of formulating criticism towards society and social issues. Hereby, raising awareness and sensitivity for the idea of individualism maintains a key role in solving many of the emergent family problems. Finally, assuming a somewhat mediatory stance, poststructuralist femınism theory will allow me not only to criticize patriarchy (although this is the point of the author most of the time), but to understand and accept both sides equally, trying to analyze (based on the psychoanalysis of the family and gender identities), determine, at which point boys and girls start to differentiate themselves from each other and their parents, when exactly they achieve the border of belonging and separation and at what point they start being a full-fledged member of society. The research will mainly be constructed on the triangle of gender, society and family relationships. Keywords: Elif Shafak, literature analysis, feminism in Turkey, poststructural feminism theory patriarchy, oedipal complex