The traditional femininity ideology (TFI) and the internalized misogyny in Licia Canton’s short stories

Abstract

The main objective of the present study consists of investigating, from a literary and social point of view the relationship between the norms of the traditional femininity ideology (TFI) and the internalized misogyny (Davis et. al., 2018) in Licia Canton’s short stories, an Italian-Canadian writer. This research centres around a new reframing of the five factors conceptualized as traditional norms of femininity such as stereotypic image and activities, dependence and deference, purity, caretaking, and emotionality (Levant et. al., 2007, cited in Davis et. al., 2018). These are expressed and exemplified by passive acceptance of traditional gender roles and self-objectification in her feminine characters. At the same time, female protagonists of the short stories selected and analysed could internalize dominant expectations regarding traditional femininity. What is stated could cause stress, strain, conflict, and marginalization in some cases. For that reason, it is visible the fight for equality and a new reframing of these traditional notions and norms of femininity which result in a hegemonic femininity.