Women's Restraints: A Viewpoint From Beauvoir's Otherization Theory in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God
Abstract
In Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, women's constraints are depicted from the standpoint of Beauvoir's concept of otherization. Synopsis Using Simone de Beauvoir's theory of Otherization as a framework, this term paper examines how women's limitations are portrayed in Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God. The main character, Janie Crawford, represents how being a Black woman intersects with her identity, influencing her experiences of marginalization and Otherization. In order to challenge established gender norms and highlight the possibilities for women to overcome social restraints, the study examines Janie's journey from conformity to self-discoveryThe notion of women as subservient is disrupted by Janie's leadership and her willingness to face oppression, which has feminist implications of agency and intersectionality. The enduring impact of her character highlights the continuous pursuit of self-empowerment and gender equality. This paper presents a thorough examination of Janie's experiences and their wider societal repercussions using Beauvoir's notion of Otherization, acknowledging the many ways in which women's identities and agency are compromised within patriarchal structures.
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