A Study of Negotiation in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth

Abstract

This study examined the power relationships between male and female characters, between the white female character and women of color, and women of color’s power relationship to each other in White Teeth through analyzing sequential moves in dialogues.The exchange structure reveals that male characters are in dominance in their relationship with female characters, and female characters suffer sexual discrimination. It is also found that in their relationship to the white female character, women of color experience the discriminations of racism and classism, but they tried hard to battle against these discriminations. In addition, even within the community of women of color, women had to fight against oppressive stereotypes.