CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2007
| Author | Karepova, Maria Alexandrovna |
|---|---|
| Title | Being a "Bitch" in Russia: the Construction of the New Female Identity in the Popular Psychology Self-Help Discourses |
| Summary | This thesis focuses on the investigation of the construction of an alternative model of female identity produced in the new series of self-help books that emerged in contemporary Russia and that teach women how to become a “bitch” in order to achieve success in every aspect of life. Using a method of discourse analysis, I explore how this type of literature functions in the contemporary Russian context and how dominant discourses of femininity and ideas about women’s power are being (re)defined and contested in these books. Even though the “bitch”-books do not challenge the existing patriarchal system of power relations, sustain and reinforce gender stereotypes, reproduce discourses on individualism and consumerism, nevertheless through specific features of the proposed identity these books represent an attempt to deal with important issues in contemporary Russian society. They offer a positive image of women’s power which contests popular accusations of women as “too emancipated” and as responsible for the emasculation of Russian men today. The books provide a “solution” for existing gender inequality, redefine the conventional understanding of male/female relationship to make it compatible with contemporary context and let women participate in the contemporary capitalist society with its glamour and temptations |
| Supervisor | Cerwonka, Allaine |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2007/karepova_maria.pdf |
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