(Re)writing of Feminist Themes in Two Authored and Translated Women-centered Novels in the 2000s Post-Islamic Revolution
Abstract
This interdisciplinary study examined feminist concepts of gender and sex in post-Islamic Revolution Iranian novels authored and translated by women, employing a framework integrating Egbert and Sanden’s (2019) feminist theory, Suwardi`s (2010) feminist literary criticism, and Lefevere’s (1992) rewriting theory. The study analyzed Cheraqha ra Man Khamoosh Mikonam by Pirzad and Unless by Shields, translated by Sharafi, through a descriptive corpus-based thematic analysis focusing on women-centered themes such as occupation, power, silence, and sexual desire. Feminist theory provided a foundation for understanding systemic oppression and intersectionality, while feminist literary criticism revealed how patriarchal ideologies and gendered power relations were embedded and contested in the texts. Lefevere’s rewriting theory contextualized these concerns within literary production and translation, emphasizing how translation reshapes dominant poetics to amplify marginalized voices. The findings showed that both novels adapted and recontextualized feminist discourse, demonstrating the transformative potential of rewriting in shaping feminist themes for diverse sociocultural settings. While Unless explored women’s sexual desires through internal struggles aligned with global feminist dialogues, Cheraqha ra Man Khamoosh Mikonam intertwined these desires with societal expectations and personal sacrifice, reflecting localized cultural norms. This adaptation of global feminist discourse to the Iranian context enriches Iranian feminist literature, enabling women to voice their concerns, promote collective discourse, and foster social change by elevating women’s voices and experiences in contemporary Iran.
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