SUVANNABHUMI (수완나부미)

Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies (부산외대 아세안연구원)
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Issues of Literature, Language, and Identity in Southeast Asia: Poetry by Marjorie Evasco and Dư Thị Hoàn from a Feminist Perspective

  • Nguyen Thi Thuy Hanh (Institute of Literature, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS))
  • Received : 2024.02.17
  • Accepted : 2024.07.01
  • Published : 2024.07.31
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Abstract

At the dawn of the 20th century, Southeast Asian female poets increasingly delved into introspective reflections on gender, giving rise to a heightened self-awareness in their artistic contemplations. This shift in perspective brought forth numerous crucial topics for discussion, such as the historical role of female poets, women's experiences, feminine language, female voices, and female identity. The exploration of language has empowered female poets to discover a "third space" that allows them to exist and eliminate the pervasive gaps of women in Southeast Asia, creating social changes, fostering concepts of feminine culture, and establishing progressive social institutions. Marjorie Evasco (1953-) and Dư Thị Hoàn (1947 - ) are exemplary representatives of contemporary Southeast Asian women's poetry due to their significant artistic contributions and pivotal roles in promoting feminist literature in their respective countries. This study compares their poetic works, focusing on three crucial aspects: self-awareness of femininity and feminism as an identity autonomy, writing between two languages to express their identities, and constructing the image of mother and motherhood from personal and historical perspectives. Hence, the article highlights that Southeast Asian female poets, throughout different historical contexts, persistently forge their identities and strive for equal footing with men in society. Also, their invaluable contributions have significantly enriched the feminist literary tradition in Asia.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 602.04-2023.01

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