Social construction of gender in the good earth
The construction of gender in terms of masculinity and femininity in The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is examined based on the social constructionist theory. Wang Lung’s masculinity and Olan’s femininity are social constructs which are shaped by Confucian culture. The portrayal of both characters is...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis |
| Published: |
2011
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/ http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/1/EL%2D2011%2D0805056%2D1.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848885204025868288 |
|---|---|
| author | Goh, Vern Jan |
| author_facet | Goh, Vern Jan |
| author_sort | Goh, Vern Jan |
| building | UTAR Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The construction of gender in terms of masculinity and femininity in The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is examined based on the social constructionist theory. Wang Lung’s masculinity and Olan’s femininity are social constructs which are shaped by Confucian culture. The portrayal of both characters is also influenced by the author’s background. The qualitative methods used in this study include close reading, thematic analysis and biographical analysis. To begin with, Wang Lung’s masculinity is molded by his father and Confucian culture. Feudalism also influences his appreciation of sons, concubines and bound feet. Similarly, Confucianism and feudal norms construct O-lan’s femininity. Her parents and the mistress of the House of Hwang shape her beliefs of women’s responsibilities in a Confucian culture. Furthermore, Wang Lung and O-lan are depicted based on the author’s parents. Buck’s father was oppressive while Buck’s mother was submissive. This study is carried out as there seems to be relatively little research which employed the social constructionist theory to examine gender in The Good Earth. For further research, this theory can be used to study the element of superstition. On the whole, Wang Lung’s masculinity and O-lan’s femininity result from the Confucian culture instead of biological sources. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T19:18:53Z |
| format | Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis |
| id | utar-259 |
| institution | Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T19:18:53Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | utar-2592019-08-15T17:20:00Z Social construction of gender in the good earth Goh, Vern Jan PE English The construction of gender in terms of masculinity and femininity in The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is examined based on the social constructionist theory. Wang Lung’s masculinity and Olan’s femininity are social constructs which are shaped by Confucian culture. The portrayal of both characters is also influenced by the author’s background. The qualitative methods used in this study include close reading, thematic analysis and biographical analysis. To begin with, Wang Lung’s masculinity is molded by his father and Confucian culture. Feudalism also influences his appreciation of sons, concubines and bound feet. Similarly, Confucianism and feudal norms construct O-lan’s femininity. Her parents and the mistress of the House of Hwang shape her beliefs of women’s responsibilities in a Confucian culture. Furthermore, Wang Lung and O-lan are depicted based on the author’s parents. Buck’s father was oppressive while Buck’s mother was submissive. This study is carried out as there seems to be relatively little research which employed the social constructionist theory to examine gender in The Good Earth. For further research, this theory can be used to study the element of superstition. On the whole, Wang Lung’s masculinity and O-lan’s femininity result from the Confucian culture instead of biological sources. 2011-03 Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/1/EL%2D2011%2D0805056%2D1.pdf Goh, Vern Jan (2011) Social construction of gender in the good earth. Final Year Project, UTAR. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/ |
| spellingShingle | PE English Goh, Vern Jan Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title | Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title_full | Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title_fullStr | Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title_short | Social construction of gender in the good earth |
| title_sort | social construction of gender in the good earth |
| topic | PE English |
| url | http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/ http://eprints.utar.edu.my/259/1/EL%2D2011%2D0805056%2D1.pdf |