Identities at the Crossroads: An Intersectional Analysis of The Balkan Trilogy and Their Eyes Were Watching God
Identities at the Crossroads: An Intersectional Analysis of The Balkan Trilogy and Their Eyes Were Watching God

Summary/Abstract: The concept of identity raises crucial questions that shape our understanding of differences and mutual recognition. Identity is not a static entity but rather encompasses dynamic processes influenced by race, gender, class, language, culture, and other sociocultural and historical factors. These elements open up space for complex analyses of how individuals identify themselves and how they are perceived by society. In contemporary literary studies, intersectionality theory has become essential for understanding the intricate aspects of identity and social dynamics. This theory explores how different factors interact and shape individuals within society. This paper presents a comparative analysis of The Balkan Trilogy by Serbian author Gordana Kuić and Their Eyes Were Watching God by American author Zora Neale Hurston, examining different cultural and social contexts, to investigate the complexities of women's experiences and identities through an intersectional lens. The Balkan Trilogy explores transformations in the identities of the Salom family women, particularly the shifts among Sephardic women influenced by social, historical, and religious forces. Their Eyes Were Watching God centers on the journey of Janie Crawford, an African American woman striving for autonomy and self-determination within the confines of a patriarchal and racially oppressive society in the southern United States. The analysis of Janie's experience focuses on the impact of racial, gender, and class dynamics on her identity. By applying an intersectional critical framework, this research aims to provide deeper insights into how social norms, patriarchal structures, global historical events, and class relations shape women's identities. It will contribute to discussions on the universality and specificity of women's experiences offering a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of women's identities across different cultural contexts.

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