THE MOTHERHOOD CONTINENT AS A WRITING SPACE IN THE WORKS OF JASMINA TEŠANOVIĆ Cover Image

Majčinski kontinent kao prostor pisanja u djelima Jasmine Tešanović
THE MOTHERHOOD CONTINENT AS A WRITING SPACE IN THE WORKS OF JASMINA TEŠANOVIĆ

Author(s): Merima Omeragić
Subject(s): Novel, Serbian Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Filološki fakultet, Nikšić
Keywords: Jasmina Tešanović; A Women’s Book; The Mermaids; Matrimonium; Nefertiti Was Here; motherhood continent; ideology (intensive) motherhood; mother-daughter relationship; women's writing; matriarchy

Summary/Abstract: The phenomenon of motherhood is a challenging focus for research in the feminist literary theory/critique. The motherhood continent as a controversial point of contention in the society has become (or remains) a polemicized field between the traditionalism, critical, essentialist feminism and epistemology. Advocating for the deconstruction of social postulates of patriarchy starts with a revision of the positive connotations of motherhood, demonization of abortion/birth control, and the right to birth self-determination. In the struggle for power and control at the waning of matriarchy, the androcentric order established the purpose, model and objectives of motherhood. The examination in this work destabilizes elements of motherhood in A Women's Book, The Mermaids, Matrimonium, and Nefertiti Was Here. The objective of this work is to deconstruct the concept of motherhood that is present in our paternal/patriarchal traditions by denouncing the harmful and deeply rooted stereotypes. Simultaneously the work exposes and highlights the need for affirmation of authentic feminine legacy, elucidates aspects of the mother-daughter relationship, and promotes the accomplishments of regional literature. In this scientific approach to the phenomenon of motherhood, the work makes use of such theoretical concepts as: ideology of intensive motherhood, creation of body language and women's writing, motherly instinct, maternal ideology, matriarchy and mythology, the black continent, identification with the mother, as well as the mother-daughter relationship, the child's belonging, motherhood and non-motherhood and abortion-birth sterility. The inclusion of these themes in the narratives is an indicative question of the subjective affirmative experience of motherhood, where we find transcendental impulses for generating women's language and creation, which juxtapose ideological norms, intensity of motherhood and achieve autonomy in literary creation.

  • Issue Year: 2021
  • Issue No: 34
  • Page Range: 119-138
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Serbian