Gender representation in Myanmar short stories

Name: Yi, Tin Moe

Organization : Mae Fah Luang University

keyword: Myanmar short stories

LCSH: Short stories, Southeast Asian -- History and criticism

Classification :.LCCS: PL3986

LCSH: Southeast Asian fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism

LCSH: Short stories, Burmese

Abstract: In Myanmar, although men and women have equal rights under the customary law, conservative cultural belief prevents to enjoy these rights between men and women. Therefore, men are still superior and women are subordinate in Myanmar society. To reach a better understanding of whether equality exists between men and women in Myanmar society, a particular type of literary work which is reflection of Myanmar culture can be explored. Therefore, Myanmar short stories, written originally in English by Myanmar author Daw Khin Myo Chit and the selection of Myanmar short stories written in Myanmar by various kinds of Myanmar which are translated into English by Myanmar writer Ma Thanegi, are chosen to be investigated. The present study aims to investigate, using gender analysis and linguistic analysis, the way in which gender is represented in Myanmar short stories and what Myanmar gender-related sociocultural features are reflected by such literary representation. The quantitative and qualitative methods are used to analyze short stories. Descriptive statistical analysis is used for quantitative method and gender-related sociolinguistic concepts are applied for qualitative method. It is observed that the findings obtained in Daw Khin Myo Chit’s short stories and Ma Thanegi’s translated works have produced the same results. The results through gender analysis by Khurshid et al. (2010) indicate that there are no significant differences between males and females – representation in sex ratio, occupations and activities except occupational roles. In analyzing the stereotype of masculine and femininity, it is found that men are aggressive, active, helpful, going outside rather than females. On the other hand, it is found that women are more nurturing, more passive, asking more helps and staying indoor and more emotional than males. In applying speech act theory proposed by Searle (1979), it is found that directives and assertive speech acts are mostly employed by both males and females in Myanmar short stories. Based on the results under the analysis of linguistic devices, most of the linguistic features that refer to males have negative connotation and mostly those that refer to females have positive connotation. On the reference terms, the tendency to have subjects to males is higher than female whereas the tendency to have objects to females is higher than males. The other finding is that the rhetorical devices; hedges, tag questions and empty adjectives are used by both males and females. It is also found that empty adjectives are used more by males than by females. The results in my study reject Lakoff’s (1975) hypothesis that these three rhetorical devices are for women language. It can be concluded that although women play different roles in society as equal as the men, men are still found superior than women. It is observed from this study that how the literature is related to the social works and how the language used is effective on the society through Myanmar literary works.

Mae Fah Luang University. The Learning Resources and Education Media Center

Address: Chiang Rai

Email: library@mfu.ac.th

Name: Chaiyathip Katsura

Role: Advisor

Created: 2016

Issued: 2017

Modified: 2020-04-27

Issued: 2017-04-11

วิทยานิพนธ์/Thesis

application/pdf

CallNumber: Thesis PL3986 Y513g 2016

eng

DegreeName: Dotor of Philosophy

Level: Doctoral Degree

Descipline: English for Professional Development

Grantor: Mae Fah Luang University

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1	Tin Moe Yi.pdf	3.77 MB	23	2022-01-01 01:11:22

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