Women in Fariba Vafi’s My Bird (Parandehye-man): A Portrayal of Gender Role, Cultural Beliefs, and Social Relations.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A., English Language and Literature, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

10.22080/jlab.2026.31251.1012

Abstract

From a feminist perspective, patriarchy is a pervasive system that has long denied women freedom, equality, dignity, and opportunity. Within this framework, literature functions as a powerful medium through which women’s oppression can be articulated and critiqued. Accordingly, the present study examines Fariba Vafi’s award-winning novel, My Bird (2002), a work that reflects significant shifts in women’s roles and the construction of gender identity in Iranian society. The primary objective of this article is to explore how the traditional and social conditions shaping women’s lives intersect with their sense of womanhood and their social action. It further shows how female characters negotiate tensions between personal identity, social roles, and inner desires. The study seeks not only to depict the lived reality of gender domination, but also to analyze the transformations occurring within that reality. Additionally, the study seeks to highlight female characters’ agency to counter traditional notions of femininity and how they circumvent the established norms of a male-centred universe. Ultimately, the article demonstrates that Vafi’s work contributes significantly to contemporary discussions on gender, social change, and the evolving roles of women, offering a nuanced perspective on how literature can reflect and inspire transformations in both personal and societal conceptions of womanhood.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Literature Across Borders
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer/Fall
September 2026
Pages 45-60

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