Date of Graduation
Summer 2024
Degree
Master of Arts in English
Department
English
Committee Chair
Shannon Wooden
Abstract
Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s “Sultana’s Dream” (1905) and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) present feminist utopias separated by more than a century. Despite the temporal gap, both works introduce worlds where traditional gender roles are reversed. This thesis explores Hossain’s and Gerwig’s suggestions to create ideal worlds through empowerment of women. Considering evolution of feminist utopian thought from the beginning of the twentieth century to the beginning of the twenty-first, and the differences in feminisms from East to West, this thesis analyzes the narrative structures, thematic elements, and cultural contexts of these works. Despite differences, both authors seek not just female but human emancipation from oppressive, non-equitable cultural practices. By bridging distinct cultural landscapes and artistic mediums, I aim to deepen the understanding of the shared ideals and unique expressions of these feminist utopias, emphasizing the transformative power of storytelling in advocating for gender equality. I also introduce and explore a new idea of “Synthetic” feminism, which contributes to feminist thinking about the present, technologically-mediated, cultural moment.
Keywords
women empowerment, reversed gender role, feminist utopia, “Sultana’s Dream”, Barbie, synthetic feminism, gender equality
Subject Categories
Women's Studies
Copyright
© Tasnuva Tabassum
Recommended Citation
Tabassum, Tasnuva, "Empowered Womanhood in Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s “Sultana’s Dream” and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie: Keys to the Ideal World" (2024). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4000.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4000
