The Role of Feminist Ideology in Contemporary Novels by Iranian Women (Case Study: Goli Taraghi)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of feminist ideology in contemporary novels written by Iranian women, with a particular focus on the works of Goli Taraghi as a case study. The research adopts a descriptive–analytical method grounded in the principles of feminist literary criticism, analyzing texts through the lenses of gender, power, and ideology. The findings indicate that feminist ideology is not only manifested at the level of content and thematic concerns but is also deeply embedded in the narrative structure, writing style, and characterization of Taraghi’s works. Within the domain of stylistics, this ideology is reflected across multiple linguistic layers. At the phonological and lexical levels, the use of a soft and emotive tone, along with affective and detail-oriented vocabulary such as “captivity” and “silence,” functions as a means of resisting the certainty and authority of masculine discourse. From a syntactic perspective, the employment of interrogative and incomplete sentences, as well as non-linear structures and stream-of-consciousness techniques, reveals the psychological complexities of women and challenges linear, male-centered narratives. This stylistic orientation, in line with Showalter’s theory of the “genotext,” contributes to the formation of a feminine style that articulates women’s specific experiences and serves as a tool for protest and self-discovery. In the analysis of the novels, Taraghi’s female characters move away from stereotypes and emerge as complex, dynamic, and agentic figures who seek identity and individual autonomy. These characters are portrayed as breadwinners and as figures of resistance against male irresponsibility, a depiction that aligns with liberal feminist emphases on economic independence. By centering women’s voices, Taraghi articulates a critique of social structures through themes such as death and suicide, presented as forms of protest against oppressive conditions. Feminist ideology in Taraghi’s works appears in a localized and hybrid form through the integration of Iranian and Western cultural elements. Overall, Taraghi’s writings function as a mirror of women’s struggles to construct an independent identity within the historical and social context of contemporary Iran.