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چکیده
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This study examines the representation of male characters in Katherine Mansfield’s selected short stories through the lens of gender studies, with particular attention to the dynamics of masculinity within early twentieth-century society. The problem addressed in this study is the lack of a clear understanding of how Mansfield portrays male identities and the ways in which her male characters engage with, conform to, or resist traditional masculine roles in early twentieth-century contexts. Theory. Issues of patriarchy, power, class hierarchy, emotional repression, and gendered social roles remain central to this investigation. The study concluded that Mansfield’s male character reflects a wide spectrum of masculinities—hegemonic, complicit, subordinate, and marginalized—each revealing different dimensions of male identity shaped by cultural, social, and economic factors. Her stories portray men who uphold patriarchal authority, men who passively sustain it, and others who suffer under its weight, thus exposing the contradictions and emotional costs of traditional masculinity. Through subtle irony and psychological depth, Mansfield critiques the rigid expectations placed upon men, highlighting the limitations and vulnerabilities within patriarchal structures. Furthermore, the research affirms Mansfield’s relevance to contemporary discussions of gender, masculinity, and class, and encourages future comparative and cross-cultural studies to further examine her contribution to debates on gender and identity.
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