What women want : independence through embracing the inner spirit in Gloria Naylor's Bailey 's Cafe

African Americans in literature;Women;Black;in literature;African American women in literature;American fiction- 20th century;Gender identity in literature

Okusko, JaimieCrawford, Norlisha ;

University of Wisconsin

关键词: African Americans in literature;    Women;    Black;    in literature;    African American women in literature;    American fiction- 20th century;    Gender identity in literature;   

Others  :  https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/54092/Okusko%2c_Jaimie_With_TP.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Wisconsin

【 摘 要 】

This thesis project explores the objectification of black feminized characters inGloria Naylor;;s Bailey;;s Cafe, and the ways that they resist negative representations togain agency.Naylor;;s novel gives a complex picture of the historically limited choices ofidentity that black women have faced. Each character depicts a different approach to theblack female body and its domination by patriarchal society. Moreover, through her novelNaylor investigates many different traditions in which individuals come to understand thepower of their inner spirit and how they use their understanding of that spirituality to findpeace of mind, pride, and beauty. It is important to explore Naylor;;s novel because inU.S. society men are allowed more freedom of expression, sexually, than women. Whenwomen attempt to express that they enjoy sex and find fulfillment in their sexualidentities, in a fashion similar to many men, they are viewed as promiscuous and deemedunfit, rather than applauded and encouraged.My interest in this subject began through my studies in Gender in Literature andFeminist Criticisms classes. To pursue this project the fields of feminism, blues music,African-American culture, sexuality, and gender were researched through a number ofavenues including books, journals, newspapers, scholarly criticisms, and a review ofgraduate class lectures.Through redefining and adapting their own Christian spirituality, however, theybegin to live rich, if unconventional, lives on their own terms. In Bailey;;s Cafe innerspirituality comes in many forms including, but not limited to sexuality, genderdefinition, self love, and self acceptance. Furthermore, by redefining that which societyhas deemed unfit and embracing their inner spirituality, Naylor;;s characters have gainedindividuality and independence.