The Victimization of Women in Patriarchal Societies: a Comparative Case Study of Circe and Beyond the Fields

Abstract

Patriarchal societal structures assume that men hold more power than women. In such systems, male power influences every aspect of life, from social dynamics to political decisions, legal frameworks, and moral considerations. Patriarchal cultures are often seen as mechanisms for exploiting women, contributing to issues such as violence, sexual harassment, and victimization. This study seeks to enhance understanding of the parallels and distinctions in women’s victimization across various patriarchal societies, irrespective of cultural origins. Through a comparative case study, it explores common and culturally specific experiences of oppression and victimization, significantly contributing to existing knowledge of patriarchal systems. The research examines the victimization of Circe, the protagonist in Madeline Miller's Circe, and Zara, the protagonist in Aysha Baqir's Beyond the Fields, using Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA) by Lazar and Wodak’s Discourse Historical Approach (DHA). It highlights the shared experiences of patriarchal oppression faced by these characters. Despite the vastly different cultural contexts one rooted in the mythological and divine world of Ancient Greece, the other in the socio-cultural dynamics of contemporary South Asia, the victimization of women in both contexts reveals striking similarities. Both novels underscore the pervasive and enduring nature of patriarchal norms, including the objectification of women’s bodies, the normalization of sexual violence, and societal mechanisms that enforce conformity to patriarchal ideals of honor, purity, and submission.