Facing dominant master narratives on gender and sexuality: Identity reconstruction of women in situations of inequality

Abstract

The article is based on a conception of identity and self as a situated narrative construction in which memory plays a central role. To construct self-narratives, individuals internalise cultural master narratives in specific socio-cultural settings. For that reason, the analysis of self-identity needs to go beyond the individual to integrate interpersonal and socio-cultural levels, as well. Starting from this theoretical perspective, two studies of identity reconstruction of women facing situations of inequality and violence (lesbian women and women after gender-based violence) in Spain were examined. These two groups were confronted with gendered master narratives that place women in a subordinate situation. The two studies applied a similar methodology, based on the use of Bruner’s self-indicators. The analysis of the cases was focused on three issues: the dynamics of master versus alternative narratives in identity (re)construction and their relation to social reproduction and change, the need to consider the three levels of analysis (socio-cultural, interpersonal and individual) and the role of voice and silence in these processes. Finally, the involvement or memory in identity reconstruction was considered.

Empowered but endangered? An analysis of hegemonic womanhood in Indian gender advocacy campaigns

“…Given the SRT's assumption regarding the heterogeneous nature of knowledge in contemporary societies, the similarities across the different organizations' representations is somewhat surprising. To return to issues of power, this consistency across organizations points to the existence of hegemonic representations tied to a neoliberal master narrative that individualizes social change and represents women and their issues according to ideals of middle-class womanhood (de la Mata et al, 2022). As Jovchelovitch (1997) suggests, hegemonic representations emerge when certain groups have greater access to resources than others, particularly communication channels.…”

“…In addition, MWCD also advanced a polemic representation of gender-biased sex selection by also visualizing it in urban middle-class households. It will remain the subject of future research to explore if these more emancipated and polemic representations can provide material for the construction of alternative narratives (de la Mata et al, 2022).…”

“…Jovchelovitch (1997) suggests that the distinction between the aforementioned types of representations is rooted in power. Representations attain hegemonic status when certain groups have greater access to resources particularly media and communication channels, increasing their opportunities to impose their versions of reality (see also: de la Mata et al, 2022). Thus, power construes legitimacy, inscribing hegemonic representations in institutions, routines and social thinking.…”

“…This corresponds to ideas of silence as power whereby shared understandings and normative expectations offered by culturally dominant narratives do not need to be explicated because they are so engrained and naturalized (Fivush, 2010). Such hegemonic narratives have been termed master narratives, referring to cultural myths that offer moral, ethical and affective guidelines for understanding events (de la Mata et al, 2022). Paying attention to master narratives can reveal interests at stake and alternative representations that are marginalized, in line with Howarth's (2006) vision for more critical applications of SRT.…”

Memory in energy transitions: individual agency through historical narratives in the energy transition to gas and electricity in the Dutch household

“…Memory scholar Manuel de la Mata et al adopt the concept of master narratives as particularly privileged tools to understand the lives of individuals. Master narratives, so they argue, account for the bidirectional relation between personal and cultural narratives (De la Mata et al 2022). Individuals construct and reconstruct the stories of their life, i.e., their identity, by adhering to the 'menu of stories' that culture provides.…”