From Patriarchal Structure to Revolutionary Equality: The Transformation of Gender Roles in Zunun Qadiri’s Plays

Authors : Ecem Gül İlek, Orhan Söylemez

Pages : 1021-1036

Doi:10.22559/folklor.4998

View : 375 | Download : 402

Publication Date : 2025-11-01

Article Type : Research Paper

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.
Keywords : Zunun Kadiri, Uygur tiyatrosu, kadın, erkek, toplumsal cinsiyet

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