The following paper analyses Joyce Carol Oates’ novel “Sexy”. Darren, the main pro-tagonist, finds himself between rising sexuality, his parents’ and teachers’ expecta-tions towards him as an adolescent man as well as peer-pressure in his boys’ clique. The interplay of power structures, homosexuality and gender identity additionally contribute to the complexity of the novel. Therefore, the research question of this paper focuses on how general notions of gender influence individuals’ identities.
The first part of the paper is a literary analysis of the text regarding traditional gender roles and Judith Butler’s notion of sex and gender. Men and women perform accord-ing to what they learn is appropriate for their biological sex, caught within binary categories. The same applies to the characters in Oates’ “Sexy”, except for Mr. Tracy who does not fit gendered categories and becomes victim of homosexual persecution. Shifts in “gender-appropriate” performances can also be observed regarding Darren. Thus, this paper argues that sex and gendered identity are multidimensional con-structs characterised by fluidity and changeability.
According to Thaler literature is not only taught for the sake of personal enrich-ment or intercultural learning but also language development. Therefore, a didactic analysis is provided in the last chapter regarding the curriculum, the topic’s classroom relevance as well as a methodological analysis.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Theoretical Background
- Traditional gender roles
- Performative gender
- Literary Analysis
- Didactic Analysis
- Topic relevance
- Learning targets and competences
- Methodological analysis
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines how traditional gender roles and performative gender, as defined by Judith Butler, are presented in Joyce Carol Oates' novel "Sexy." The analysis focuses on how these concepts influence the protagonist's identity and how they are portrayed in the text. The paper also includes a didactic analysis, exploring the relevance of this topic in educational settings.
- Traditional gender roles and their influence on identity
- Judith Butler's theory of performative gender
- The interplay of power structures, homosexuality, and gender identity
- The role of literature in promoting language development and cultural understanding
- The didactic application of literary analysis in educational contexts
Chapter Summaries
The introduction provides a contextual overview of the concept of gender, highlighting its binary nature and the impact of social expectations. It focuses on the protagonist, Darren, and his struggle with emerging sexuality, parental and societal expectations, and peer pressure. The paper aims to investigate how societal notions of gender affect individuals' identities.
The theoretical background section delves into traditional gender roles and Judith Butler's concept of performative gender. It distinguishes between biological sex and culturally constructed gender, examining the social norms and expectations that shape how men and women are perceived and behave. The chapter also explores the implications of these expectations on individual choices and the impact of deviating from these norms.
The literary analysis chapter examines the text of "Sexy" through the lens of traditional gender roles and performative gender. It explores how characters, particularly Darren and Mr. Tracy, navigate societal expectations and how their experiences challenge traditional gender constructs. The chapter analyzes the fluidity and changeability of sex and gender identities within the narrative.
The didactic analysis section explores the educational implications of the text. It discusses the curriculum relevance of analyzing gender themes in literature, the learning objectives and competencies that can be developed through this analysis, and the methodological approaches that can be employed.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of this paper include gender, traditional gender roles, performative gender, Judith Butler, Joyce Carol Oates, "Sexy," literary analysis, didactic analysis, and educational implications.
- Citation du texte
- Ingrid Detter (Auteur), 2019, Traditional Gender Roles and Performative Gender in Joyce Carol Oates’ "Sexy", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/509601
