Female protagonist in Jean Rhys's Voyage in the dark : a gender analysis

Abstract EN

Gender analysis is a vital topic in the modern age since it deals with the major problems that women encounter and sheds light on aspects of discrimination and inequality between men and women.

The disadvantaged position of women in society is now internationally recognized as a breach of human rights and an obstacle to development.

It is also recognized that women’s subordination in society has been institutionalized through structures which organize human life in ways that marginalize women in important areas such as guidance, employment, policy-making, planning, and implementation.

This happens in various settings – within families, in schools, and in commercial and political institutions.

As a result, the content or priorities of such institutions reflect those of men, and in particular, of men from powerful and authoritative social groups.

Furthermore, gender is not considered the only reason for inequity, rather than other reasons for social identity such as class, race, ethnicity, political and economic system, and religion.

It is important to recognize that these sources may interact with gender and where appropriate they need to be included in any gender analysis, because they affect women’s and men’s lives in different ways.

The British author, Jean Rhys (1890-1978), deals with these issues in all her writings, one of which is her novel Voyage in the Dark (1934).

This paper aims at studying gender analysis as a main factor which affects Rhys's female protagonist's life.