Cultural Adaptations and Gender Representations in Turkish Translations of Little Women

Abstract

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has had a profound cultural impact since its publication in 1868, particularly in its exploration of gender roles and societal expectations. This study examines two Turkish translations of the novel by Belkıs Sami (1931) and Suna Tanyol (1953), analyzing how these translations reflect the shifting socio-political landscapes of Türkiye. Using Lawrence Venuti’s (1995) theories of domestication and foreignization, the paper explores how the translators navigated cultural adaptation. The 1931 translation aligns with Türkiye’s early Republican ideals, incorporating domesticating strategies to present the text in a manner more familiar to Turkish readers during a time of cultural transition. Conversely, the 1953 translation adopts foreignizing approaches, reflecting Türkiye’s increasing openness to Western influence and highlighting the cultural and ideological shifts of the 1950s. Through comparative analysis, the study explores themes of gender, societal norms, and the translators’ roles as cultural mediators. It argues that these translations not only adapt Little Women to Turkish cultural contexts but also serve as mirrors of evolving gender ideologies in Türkiye. By preserving or transforming characters like Jo March, these translations offer insights into how literary works influence and reflect cultural attitudes toward gender roles. This research highlights the relationship between translation, culture, and gender, emphasizing the need for further studies on how translated literature influences societal norms.

Keywords

• Little Women
• cultural adaptations
• gender roles
• domestication
• foreignization
• Turkish translations

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