A critical stylistic analysis of ideologies of masculinity and femininity in folktales of Egypt (1980)‎

Abstract EN

This study examines how Egyptian folktales construct ideologies of femininity and masculinity.

it looks into gender representation from a critical stylistic perspective in El Shamy (1980) folktales of Egypt.

drawing on Jeffries's (2010) critical stylistic model, the present study utilizes two major tools of textual-conceptual function, namely : i) naming and describing, and ii) representation of actions, events and states.

it sets off with a content, thematic analysis of the selected folktales.

then, it analyses the data using the selected textual-conceptual toolkit.

it primarily explores linguistic encoding of value systems and beliefs, latent in the texts, to unveil the ideologies indexed via linguistic resources.

the conceptual-textual function of 'naming' and 'describing' as well as representation of actions, events and states linguistically reflect culturally-entrenched ideologies.

findings show that strategies of naming indicate that men are often labelled according to their occupational roles, which directly relates to the social and referential gender.

women, on the other hand, are mainly labelled according to their domestic roles within the family semantic category.

in terms of describing strategies, folktales associate men with strength, courage and power, whereas women are primarily associated with beauty and resourcefulness in few cases.

moreover, men are seen as agents, capable of action, whereas women are basically represented, rather than being in action.

it is commonly agreed that folktales reflect, and reproduce ideologies within a community.

unveiling the ideologies residing in folktales can hence explain many of the present time's prevailing beliefs and values.