Themes Of Identity Research Articles

Reimagining Gender: Exploring Feminist Consciousness in Shashi Deshpande\'s Literary Landscapes – A Comparative Study of Three Novels

Abstract: Shashi Deshpande, an eminent Indian author, has contributed significantly to contemporary Indian literature, particularly through her exploration of gender and feminism. This research paper aims to delve into Deshpande's literary landscapes by analyzing three of her prominent novels: "Roots and Shadows," "That Long Silence" and "Dark Holds No Terrors" The study focuses on uncovering the intricate portrayal of feminist consciousness in Deshpande's works and examining how her characters challenge traditional gender roles, negotiate societal expectations, and seek personal liberation. By employing feminist literary theory and employing textual analysis, this paper aims to shed light on the themes of identity, autonomy, patriarchy, and the complexities of women's lives in Deshpande's novels.

Reconciling risk as threat and opportunity: The social construction of risk in boardrooms.

Board directing is a continuous process of risk analysis and control in response to the duality of risk as threat and opportunity. Judgments are made and remade to simultaneously reduce the potential for damaging threats (e.g., fraud, reputation damage), while exploiting opportunities (e.g., new product development, mergers and acquisitions). Adopting an institutional logics approach, we explore this process of risk analysis and control through the varied subject identities (e.g., directorial roles), risk management practices (the procedures and tools used to identify, assess, and control risk), and risk objects (the product of risk identification, assessment, and control, e.g., a risk matrix or register) of boards. We argue that the contingent interaction between these identities, practices, and objects inform the "risk logic" of a board, which may draw attention to the notion of risk as threat, risk as opportunity, or both threat and opportunity. Using the testimony of 30 executive and nonexecutive directors that represent 62 companies from a range of public, private, and third-sector organizations, we contribute to the literature on the microfoundations of risk analysis in organizations by shining a light on how board directors understand, assess, control, and ultimately govern risk in organizations.

The role of the dialogical potential of Islamic identity in the formation of the Kazakhstani space of tolerance and unity

The theme of identity has been the most popular and relevant in socio-humanitarian knowledge for a century. Philosophical and anthropological, social, cultural studies of identity in the works of E. Erikson, M. Buber, K. Jaspers, Z. Freud, V. Frankl, F. Fukuyama, J. Ward, N. Taleb, T. Asad and others show that identity is an unfinished project and an unfinished process for each individual. The identity crisis in foreign discourse, which is presented in many ways, is associated with personal and social problems, in which depersonalization and alienation from self-identification are seen. The search for identity in religious awareness and identification in such conditions is clearly expressed. Religious identity becomes the most stable in the project of different identities, in the conditions of the «loss» of strict ideological imperatives. The main factor that explains the stability of the Islamic tradition and the preservation of traditional Islamic identity in the multicultural and multi-confessional landscape of Kazakhstan is its dialogic component. This article examines the dialogic potential of Islamic identity in Kazakhstan. In light of modern events such as globalization and migration processes, the issue of Islamic identity is becoming increasingly relevant. The authors conclude that Islamic identity interacts with other types of identity in the multicultural environment of Kazakhstan. The article also discusses the historical contribution of domestic cultural figures who contributed to the formation of the dialogic identity of Kazakhstani society.

Diasporic Consciousness in Jhumpa Lahiri's Novel "The Namesake"

This study analyses Jhumpa Lahiri's book "The Namesake", with a specific focus on Gogol Ganguli's character and his quest for self-knowledge as an Indian-American. The experiences of alienation, assimilation and hybridity, which are central to Lahiri's examination of diaspora, play a key role in the protagonist's development. The story provides a deep understanding of the dynamic between the original and host cultures, which forms hybridity and challenges the binary concept of identity. The themes of identity, belonging and cultural displacement are prevalent throughout Lahiri's work. This study examines how Lahiri's story sheds light on the intricate process of cultural negotiation and identity creation for diasporic persons by questioning the mechanics of cultural identity in a globalised environment. The results add to our knowledge of the global character of cultural identity and the complexity of diaspora literature.

Духовность и (или) идентичность: анализ методологических подходов

The modern context of culture, on the one hand, avoids the concept of “spirituality”, defining a religious “land” for it. On the other hand, it feels a clear need for it, due to the fact that identity does not cover the entire essence of anthropological issues. The article is devoted to the consideration of the unified methodological foundations of spirituality and identity in the genetic, constructivist approach, which takes the place of the metaphysical one and reveals the conditions, practices, techniques of creation, reproduction of the human (human nature). Initially, they arise and are determined by Christian thought through the theological theme of hypostasis, turning a person to the work of searching for freedom, “spiritual warfare” for his own self. The methodological transformation from “creo” to “cogito” involves a person in modeling himself, opening the theme of psychological, social, professional and other identities tending to infinity.

MYTHS IN WOLE SOYINKA’S THE BACCHAE OF EURIPIDES AND TOM OMARA’S THE EXODUS

This paper explores the role of myths in both Yoruba and Acholi cultures, and their repercussions in contemporary Nigerian and Ugandan societies. Data drive from The Bacchae of Euripides and The Exodus, and fall in the Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism, New Historicism framework and Post-colonial approach. Soyinka reflects on the impact of the colonial process and on the role of modern day dictatorship in many Third-World countries. His play takes the effects of intertextuality to the extreme, not only by taking the Greek tragedy as hypotext, but by relating Euripides’ subversive criticism of Greek imperialism to his own denunciation of colonization and tyranny. Tom Omara portrays the struggles and conflicts of the Acholi people in their quest for unity and self-determination, as well as the challenges they face in dealing with the colonial powers that seek to control and exploit their land and resources. Specifically, myths in the plays feature themes of migration, conflict, leadership, identity, and resistance to imperialism. Myths are seen as important elements that explain the significance of human existence.

Mapping the Cultural Landscape of the Homeland: A Semiotic Analysis of Agha Shahid Ali’s Poetry Collection

The widely renowned and exhaustively researched Kashmiri-American diasporic poet, Agha Shahid Ali, has received acclaim for his portrayal of themes such as loss, longing for the homeland, nostalgia, hyphenated identity, hybridity, and dislocation, among others. However, within the purview of new historicism, this paper intends to examine the interplay of literature, culture, and history. Using Clifford Geertz's framework of "thick description," the paper analyzes Agha's poetry as a cultural artifact with ethnographic value. Through a semiotic analysis of select poems based on Bakhtin's notion of chronotopes, the paper aims to unravel themes of fragmented identity, cultural memorialization, and the preservation of imaginary homelands. The paper also attempts to explore that Agha Shahid Ali, actively engaged with the socio-political turmoil in his homeland. He sought to reconcile the tensions between different traditions and religious communities, envisioning a personal utopia rooted in his privileged position. His poetry reflects his historical context, facilitating a symbolic exchange between the fragments of Kashmiri culture. Through intertextual references, religious symbols, and social emblems, Ali constructs a significant and experimental narrative about Kashmir.

Expatriation as Laboratory in Ernest Hemingway’s and James Baldwin’s Parisian Memoirs

This paper explores the themes of expatriation and identity in Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast and James Baldwin’s Notes of a Native Son. It examines the meaning and the function of expatriation and how it relates to the search for personal identity for both American writers by looking at the intertext of their Parisian memoirs. It shows how these transatlantic authors strategically use expatriate space as a laboratory to reconstruct personal identity as individuals and as artists via the high level of intellectualism self-exile stimulates in a social context characterized by alienation.

Psychoanalytical perspective of shakespeare's characters in love

This paper delves into the intricate realm of Shakespearean characters in love, employing a psychoanalytical lens to unravel the depths of their emotions, desires, and conflicts. Drawing on psychoanalytic theories, particularly those of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, this paper aims to dissect the subconscious motivations and psychological intricacies of characters such as Romeo and Juliet, Orsino and Viola, and other iconic figures. Through this analysis, the paper seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of how Shakespeare masterfully crafted characters whose emotional journeys resonate with universal human experiences. In addition to exploring the psychoanalytical aspects of Shakespearean characters' love, this paper also investigates the socio-cultural influences shaping their romantic dynamics. By examining the historical context in which these plays were written and performed, it aims to illuminate the ways in which societal norms and expectations intersect with individual psychology to influence characters' behaviors and choices. Furthermore, it analyzes how Shakespeare's portrayal of love reflects broader themes of power, gender, and identity, shedding light on the complex interplay between personal desire and societal constraints in Renaissance England. Through this multidimensional approach, it endeavors to provide a comprehensive examination of Shakespearean love that resonates with contemporary audiences while honoring the timeless brilliance of the Bard's storytelling.

The Intersection of Reality and Fiction in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: A Study of Absurdity and Metadrama

The article titled "The Intersection of Reality and Fiction in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: A Study of Absurdity and Metadrama" explores how Tom Stoppard's play transforms the minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet into central figures within an absurdist framework. This study examines the play’s themes of human identity, confusion, and helplessness, common in the Theatre of the Absurd, using postmodernist metadramatic techniques. By employing metadrama, Stoppard highlights the blurred lines between reality and fiction, as seen in the characters' struggles to understand their existence within the play. The paper delves into the philosophical implications of absurdity, drawing on the ideas of Albert Camus and other theorists to illustrate how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead reflects the chaotic and purposeless nature of human life. Through various metadramatic devices like the play within a play, role-playing, and the breakdown of conventional narrative structures, Stoppard's work is analyzed as a profound commentary on the human condition and the search for meaning in an incomprehensible world.

Equity in healthcare and workforce: Outcomes from the Mayo Clinic RISE for Equity: Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen & Empower conference

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the Mayo Clinic Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen and Empower (RISE) for Equity national conference on participant healthcare professionals’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-racism. Data sourcesand Study Setting: Primary data were collected from conference participants (N = 430) who represented 37 states and were primarily employed as healthcare professionals. Quantitative and qualitative assessments were electronically conducted immediately post-conference (n = 180) and three months post-conference (n = 105). Study designA case study/program evaluation study design was employed to assess changes in participants' DEI and anti-racism KSAs. Surveys included demographic questions and Likert scale questions, measuring knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Qualitative responses were also analyzed for thematic outcomes. Data collection and extraction methodsSurveys were administered via the Qualtrics XM Platform, with participation being anonymous. Responses were collected at both timepoints, and mean scores for KSAs were analyzed. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Principal findingsParticipants' mean scores for knowledge, skills, and attitudes were favorable at both timepoints and remained statistically unchanged, indicating sustained impact. Qualitative feedback revealed themes of growth, support, and understanding identities, demonstrating participants' commitment to promoting DEI and anti-racism in their work practices. ConclusionsThe Mayo Clinic RISE for Equity conference effectively enhanced participants' DEI and anti-racism KSAs, with positive outcomes sustained over three months. This study highlights the value of communal learning experiences and intentional DEI and anti-racism education. Further research should explore the broader impact of such initiatives on health disparities and workforce inclusion, considering diverse populations and organizations beyond Mayo Clinic.

The experience of foreignness in The Double Book by Dimitris Hatzis

Dimitris Hatzis’ novel, The Double Book (1976), a work of migrant literature, is an interweave of paradigmatic stories of Greeks who emigrate and reshape their identity, after leaving behind their life in their native land. The experience of foreignness is experienced both by characters in the book who consciously choose to uproot themselves from their homeland and struggle to adapt to the unfamiliar cultural environments of foreign lands, while battling against nostalgia, alienation and loneliness, and also by others who are forced to leave their provincial birthplace and end up feeling alien to themselves. The present study attempts to view these stories as the axes of a modern narrative about the “romeiko” and its lost generations, which presents different but equally painful experiences of expatriation and the aspects of the hard struggle for survival in an unwelcoming land. Taking into account postmodern theoretical approaches to migrant writing which describe it as “writing between the two” (“écriture de l’entre-deux”), it examines both the nostalgic recollections of a fragmented individual and collective memory of the recent or distant past, linked to the longing to return, and the ideological and ontological problems created by experiencing “déterritorialisation” and a sense of not belonging (“désappartenance”). The study also contemplates the marginal psychological states that arise during the process of acculturation, which are caused by difficulties in communication or by the subjective and national identity crisis of the immigrants. Nevertheless, hope of an interdependent multi-ethnic world emerges at the end of the novel, and gives rise to a humanist reflection on the need to form intercultural consciences and open “rhizomatic identities” (“identités rhizomatiques”) in contemporary multicultural communities.

The Visibility of Racism: A Critical Exploration of Marginalization and Identity in Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’

Ralph Ellison’s highly acclaimed novel, ‘Invisible Man’, is a compelling narrative that explores the themes of identity and marginalisation within a deeply polarised society. This literary research paper delves into the intricacies of identity development using postcolonial theory and examines the socio-political consequences of invisibility by conducting a thorough analysis of the protagonist’s journey. Through an analysis of the novel’s socio-cultural perspectives, I explore the process of identity formation as the protagonist, known as the ‘Invisible Man,’ navigates a society that is divided along racial and political lines. The Protagonist’s encounters with deceitful figures of authority, along with his disillusionment within the Brotherhood, expose the manipulation and exploitation that marginalised individuals endure in power structures. This study investigates the mechanisms through which African-Americans experience the dehumanisation of Negroes, which is perpetuated by stereotypes, structural racism, and segregation. Ultimately, this study affirms the significance of ‘Invisible Man’ in ongoing conversations regarding race, identity, and marginalisation.

Collaboration Between Two Contexts: Acceptability of a Pedagogical Innovation with Digital Technology

As part of the Educational Technologies for Teaching in Context research project, we have conceived a pedagogical innovation with digital technologies by considering teaching from two different contexts. In this case, the context is characterized by environments that differ between two groups of learners and this is what we call context effects-based teaching. Thus, we consider context to develop a pedagogical innovation with digital technologies involving students from two different countries. They collaborate online and investigate an identical theme while facing strongly contrasting contextual realities. This pedagogical innovation with digital technologies involves a significant change for teachers and its acceptance can foster its use in the classroom. In this perspective, this article examines the acceptability of pedagogical innovation (context effects-based teaching) and digital use by teachers. Inspired by the Technology Acceptance Model by Davis, a qualitative design research was used and 7 semi-directed interviews were conducted. The finding showed the relevance of Context Effects-Based Teaching with digital and its acceptability is characterized by a positive perception of usefulness and intention of use, and teachers noticed in-depth learning in their students.

Contesting Subjectivity: A Posthuman Perspective in Margaret Atwood’s The Year of The Flood

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the anthropocentric position in which human being assumed itself as the forerunner of the civilization and to rest, whether it is nature or any form of life, he believed, as a subject of domination. Feminist school of criticism according to Black feminist Kimberlé W. Crenshaw identifies patriarchy as one of these structures which dehumanizes females on the basis of Intersectionality. The intersectional positions, according to her, divide human beings from one another based on their identity of colour, gender, religion and so on. In this context, the paper studies Margaret Atwood’s representation of intersectional positions in the novel, The Year of the Flood(2009) where she categorically prompts on the issue of gender politics on one part and on the other she hints upon decoding the politics of subjective identity through the genetically modified Crakers who appears to be giving the reflection of what Donna Haraway calls as ‘cyborg’. The Crakers, in the novel, are genetically modified humanoids that indicate human beings as a reflection of engineered machines which gets swiped away by pandemic called “waterless Flood”. The paper demystifies idea of identity politics through the concept of ‘cyborg myth’. Cyborg myth according to Donna Haraway, terms human as evolutionary form in which, “We are all chimeras, theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism; in short, we are cyborgs” (“A Cyborg Manifesto” 150). In order to highlight the uncanny politics of identity she takes charge to redefine the social functioning of human beings through the scientific progress in which the construction and reconstruction of human identity is played out.

Vicissitudini dell’identità sessuale in adolescenza: note pedagogiche

The article proposes to carry out some considerations on the theme of sexual identity in adolescence in the present time of our western society, according to some pedagogical notes. Sexual identity is assumed to be the fulcrum of personal identity, which develops throughout the life cycle and is affected by a series of determinants. Taking up the Laufer concept of definitive sexual organization, it is argued that the vicissitudes of sexual identity in the adolescent period are linked to the first infantile educational relationships, as well as to the adolescent's ability to oppose the pathological pressures of the social group and of today's to consume. Overall, these pressures configure a new social superego or set of social pathologies against which it is difficult for the individual to rebel. In the article there follows a reference to the theme of bullying in adolescence, which much depends on deep-level anxieties about the sexual identity of bully and victim, and which tends towards the exclusion and marginalization of those who do not embody the ideal of power in the group of membership. Finally, the topic of a wide-ranging sex education is addressed, capable of speaking to the adolescent mind with clear explanations open to complexity, and which focuses on the ability to develop deep human relationships throughout life. as the basis of a model of formation of the person and of a pedagogical ideal of emancipation which remains substantially topical. In this light, a mention is made of the psychic pain that still afflicts many homosexual adolescents in our society and of the naturalness of homosexuality.

“Denomination Doesn’t Matter”? A Proposal for a Receptive Ecumenical Missiology from a Theological Action Research Project on Methodists and Catholics Engaging Together in Social Action

Abstract In ecumenical social action and mission it is common to hear phrases like, ‘denomination doesn’t matter’, and ‘we are all just Christians’. This reflects a wider tension with modern ecumenism between doctrinal and practice-based approaches to ecumenism. In this theological action research project on Methodists and Catholics engaging together in social action many espoused this pragmatic approach to action over ecclesial tradition. However, in practice they engaged with the complexities of ecumenical life and ecclesial tradition, many in significant ways. Drawing on the themes of receptivity, identity and practical wisdom seen in their practice and their understanding of ecumenism as something which is ‘lived’ rather than ‘done’, I offer a receptive ecumenical missiology. This ecumenical missiology, based in a pneumatological receptivity, offers an integrated way forward, overcoming many of the tensions between practice, mission and doctrine felt within modern ecumenism.

Same Border, Different Subject Constructions: The daily shopping visitors and the refugees across the Turkish-Bulgarian border in Kırklareli, Turkey

The Turkish-Bulgarian border at the town of Kırklareli embodies different realities and representations with respect to different subjects, namely, for those who reside there, visit regularly from neighbouring countries via open and easy access, and for those whose paths traverse the town to -illegally- cross over to Bulgaria, the European Union territory. This article aims at contributing to border-studies by means of a study on how border residents in Kırklareli position two different subject identities for the ‘others’ that they confront along the border, and how they construct a subject identity for themselves in the process. Based on the findings of the fieldwork conducted through a series of semi-structured interviews, we argue, the border crossings of the daily Bulgarian shopping visitors and refugees or illegal immigrants moving in the opposite direction create a different hierarchy of ‘self’ and ‘other’, complicated by the fact that this is also a border between the European Union and Turkey. As members of the EU, Bulgarians crossing the border for daily shopping represent an advantageous and welcomed European ‘other’ for the local population, particularly for the local shopkeepers. However, in the process, they realize they themselves are Europe’s ‘other’. Illegal migrants trying to cross the border, on the other hand, represent an uninvited ‘other’ condemned to a ‘Bare Life’, a definition bestowed by Agamben, the social theorist.

Trusting the permanence of self for people with Alzheimer’s disease

Although informed consent is rooted in the growing affirmation of the subject’s autonomy, medical anthropology has highlighted the inherent limits of this procedural notion. My ethnographic research in neurological and geriatric clinics between France and Italy showed the triangular (dis)trust relationship—between older people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), their doctor, and their caregiver. Following their cognitive decline and loss of autonomy, people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could be victims of epistemic injustice in two specific moments of the illness: the diagnostic disclosure and the institution of legal protection. If the diagnostic information diminishes the patient’s credibility, the institution of legal protection undermines the patient’s social identity and legal status. However, when caregivers preserve an unconditional trust in the permanence of the patient’s subjective identity, this trust may be conveyed to clinical teams, significantly improving the therapeutic relationship, the course of the disease, and the quality of life for all the actors involved.

“Not what I Can, but what I Should”

Educational inequalities associated with differences in social class backgrounds remain stable in many Western societies, where students from lower social classes generally have lower academic prospects. Previous research suggested that psychological barriers could explain part of this social class attainment gap. This study aimed to investigate the role of identity compatibility in explaining the relationship between high school students’ socioeconomic background and their educational aspirations. Identity compatibility is defined as perceived compatibility between students’ socioeconomic background and a stereotype of a university student. A total of 362 high school students from Croatia completed an online survey that measured their subjective socioeconomic status, identity compatibility, educational aspirations, and their school achievement. The results showed positive associations between the students’ subjective socioeconomic status and identity compatibility, which was, in turn, positively associated with their educational aspirations. The parallel multiple mediation model confirmed the significant indirect effect of subjective socioeconomic status on educational aspirations via identity compatibility, while the path via school achievement was not significant. These findings suggest that part of the social class educational aspiration gap could be explained by the perceived lack of compatibility between one’s social class identity and future university student identity, potentially leading to lower university enrolment rates among lower social class students. Practical considerations of study results are discussed in terms of the potential of socio-psychological interventions in reducing the social class educational aspiration gap.