@article{article_1814182, title={From Patriarchal Structure to Revolutionary Equality: The Transformation of Gender Roles in Zunun Qadiri’s Plays}, journal={Folklor/Edebiyat}, volume={31}, pages={1021–1036}, year={2025}, DOI={10.22559/folklor.4998}, author={İlek, Ecem Gül and Söylemez, Orhan}, keywords={Zunun Kadiri, Uygur tiyatrosu, kadın, erkek, toplumsal cinsiyet}, abstract={Zunun Qadiri (1912–1989) was a prominent writer from East Turkistan who
made significant contributions to Uyghur literary history. Over his fifty-year
career, he produced numerous plays, stories, poems, and tales that helped shape
modern Uyghur literature. This study focuses on four of Kadiri’s plays “Gunçem”
[Gunchem], “Gülnisa” [Gulnisa], “Toy” [Celebration] and “Uçraşkanda” [When
We Meet] to examine the representation of social roles among Uyghur women and characters subjected to male violence, persistent gender inequalities, social and
psychological struggles faced by both genders, and the disproportionate burden
of family provision placed upon men. Kadiri’s female characters generally fall
into three archetypal categories: The “angelic woman” (innocent and selfsacrificing), the “demonic woman” (deceitful and self- serving), and the “ideal
woman” (independent and resilient). In “Gunçem”, “Gülnisa”, and “Uçraşkanda”
women are depicted as individuals oppressed by a patriarchal social order, leading
constrained lives that often culminate in tragedy. In contrast, “Toy” presents women
as achieving parity with men, reflecting the Chinese Communist Party’s post1950 propaganda emphasizing women’s social rights and gender equality. Male
characters, by comparison, are primarily portrayed as upholders and transmitters
of patriarchal norms. Kadiri’s critical realism draws attention to social injustices
and contradictions. While his female characters oscillate between submission and
the liberation struggle, his male figures predominantly embody the continuity of
patriarchal structures. Within this framework, Kadiri’s works serve as an important
corpus for both literary and gender studies. Through his plays, the author provides
a crucial perspective for understanding the historical transformation of gender
relations within Uyghur society.}, number={124}, publisher={Uluslararası Kıbrıs Üniversitesi}