Gender Representation in Persian Folktales for Children

Abstract

Abstract-the present study was an attempt to add to the understanding of gendered content in Persian folklore stories for children. A deductive content analysis was performed to identify and record gender representation in titles, central roles, and the total number of characters. Traditionally feminine and masculine stereotypes were also investigated based on a coding scheme. The sample included 50 popular Persian folktales for children. The results indicated significant under-representation of females regarding the overall number of characters in the sample. Additionally, there were disparities in the portrayal of the two groups: females were significantly portrayed as being sex object and attractive due to their physical appearance. On the other hand, males were illustrated as being more independent, rational, strong, sexually aggressive, and attractive due to their achievements.

Image of Woman in Indonesian Folktales: Selected Stories from the Eastern Indonesian Region

“…Various folktales found throughout the world also contain gender bias as exemplified in Persian folktales where male and female characters are depicted as different-sex objects while men are portrayed as independent, rational, strong, and accomplished characters and women as the opposite (Hosseinpour & Afghari, 2016); the folktales of Sri Lanka which reflect male dominance in the stories (Medawattegedera, 2015). However, there are also examples of exceptional folktales where the women are not subordinated or subjugated rather heightened as the African folktales which reject or subvert women's patriarchal control, manipulation, exclusion, and oppression (Florence, 2016;Sheik, 2018); or folktales found in Saudi Arabia present brave and intelligent women (Al-Khalaf, 2019).…”

Indonesian Folklore Based on Gender Equality to Improve Literacy Culture

“…Hapsarani supports this inequality with the results of her research on the objectivization of women in the folktale of Si Leungli, Jaka Tarub, and Sangkuriang. Women are shown as an object of pleasure, abuse, and even as an object of male violence [9]. Women are shown to be powerless and weak so that they are easily tricked by men, while men are shown to be dominant and have power over women.…”