Socio-Political Reflections: The Influence of Second-Wave Feminism and the Rise of the Religious Right on The Handmaid's Tale

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Socio-političke refleksije: Utjecaj drugog vala feminizma i uspona religijske desnice na Sluškinjinu priču
• Author: Ivana Vučetić
• Mentor: Vanja Polić Jurković (mentor)
• Mentor: Maša Grdešić (mentor)
• Committee member: Vanja Polić Jurković (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maša Grdešić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Luka Bekavac (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Comparative literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-09-27, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Comparative Literature

Abstract

The theme of this thesis is to analyze the influence of political events and social practices of the 1980s on 'The Handmaid's Tale' through the lens of New Historicism. The thesis specifically focuses on the second wave of feminism and the rise of the religious right. Regarding the second wave of feminism, the first section analyzes issues of gender equality in the workplace and the underrepresentation of women in positions of power. Second, it examines the problem of violence against women, particularly the legal treatment of rape and victim-blaming. Third, it explores the departure from traditional gender roles through the expansion of women's experiences beyond the idealized role of wife and mother. Fourth, it analyzes women's reproductive rights. Finally, it investigates the critique of certain forms of feminism that advocate for the concept of freedom "from" instead of freedom "for." Regarding the rise of the religious right, the paper describes the key features of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, followed by an insight into the most important religious right organization, the Moral Majority, emphasizing its impact on Republican Party politics. It then analyzes the influence and motives of female religious activists. Lastly, the paper explains the religious right’s agenda, with a special focus on the use of indoctrination and propaganda. The thesis further analyzes the concept of resistance in the novel, both organized and individual. In conclusion, it discusses the novel’s relevance today, highlighting the connection between the society depicted in the novel and the current socio-political situation.

Abstract (croatian)

Tema ovog rada je analizirati utjecaj političkih događaja i društvenih praksi 1980-ih godina na roman kroz prizmu novog historicizma. Rad se specifično fokusira na drugi val feminizma i uspon religiozne desnice. Što se tiče drugog vala feminizma, prvo se analiziraju pitanja rodne ravnopravnosti na radnom mjestu i nedostatna zastupljenost žena na pozicijama moći. Drugo, razmatra se problem nasilja nad ženama, posebno pravni tretman silovanja i okrivljavanje žrtava. Treće, istražuje se odstupanje od tradicionalnih rodnih uloga kroz proširenje ženskog iskustva izvan idealizirane uloge supruge i majke. Četvrto, analiziraju se reproduktivna prava žena. Konačno, istražuje se kritika određenih oblika feminizma koji zagovaraju koncept slobode "od" umjesto slobode "za". Što se tiče uspona religiozne desnice, rad opisuje klj učne značajke predsjedništva Ronalda Reagana, nakon čega daje uvid u najvažniju organizaciju religiozne desnice, the Moral Majority i naglašava njezin utjecaj na politiku Republikanske stranke. Zatim se analizira utjecaj i motivi ženskih religioznih aktivistkinja. I na kraju, objašnjava se agenda religiozne desnice, s posebnim naglaskom na korištenje indoktrinacije i propagande. Rad dalje analizira koncept otpora u romanu, organiziranog i individualnog. Na kraju, raspravlja se o relevantnosti romana danas, ukazujući na povezanost društva u romanu s trenutnom društveno-političkom situacijom.

• Keywords: The Handmaid's Tale; Margaret Atwood; New Historicism; Dystopia; Second-Wave Feminism; the Religious Right; Ronald Reagan; Moral Majority; reproductive rights; gender equality; traditional gender roles; gender based violence; freedom to; freedom for
• Keywords (croatian): Sluškinjina priča; Margaret Atwood; novi historicizam; distopija; društveno-politički utjecaji; drugi val feminizma; religiozna desnica; Ronald Reagan; Moralna većina; reproduktivna prava; rodna ravnopravnost; tradicionalne rodne uloge; rodno uvjetovano nasilje; sloboda za; sloboda od
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:401863
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Study programme: Title: Comparative Literature (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra komparativne književnosti (magistar/magistra komparativne književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2024-10-10 21:16:29