Journal of Woman in Culture and Arts

Journal of Woman in Culture and Arts

Study of Gender Metaphors Related to Women in Interpretive Stories (Case study of Rowz al-Janan, Jala al-Azhan and Manhaj al-Sadeghin)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
kowsar ahsanmoghaddam 1
Abdollah Radmard 2
maryam salehi nia 3
1 Ph. D. in persian literature, Shariati Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
3 Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Shariati Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
10.22059/jwica.2023.361203.1932
Abstract
Metaphor is a symbolic and indirect language that conveys concealed and supplementary
meanings. Interpretive narratives may also exhibit gender metaphors and stereotypes. The
work is founded on the interpretive accounts of three Persian interpretations of Rowz al-
Jannan, Jala al-Azhan, and Manhaj al-Sadeghin in this research. This article has selected
narratives that have employed gender metaphors or whose content is reminiscent of gender
metaphors. Subsequently, the qualitative content analysis method has been employed to
investigate the value of these metaphors and their correlation with gender stereotypes.
Examples of gender metaphors in these narratives include “bed,” “Boyut,” “Atbah,” and
“Denya.” While some of these metaphors have a positive connotation, others have a negative
connotation. The most significant findings of this research are that the majority of negative
metaphors about women are based on the role of a woman as a wife or sexual companion,
which emphasizes her physical appearance. These metaphors are influenced by prevalent
gender stereotypes that are detrimental. On the contrary, the majority of positive metaphors
are centered on the role of the mother and the qualities of kindness, creation, origin, and
commencement that are associated with the mother. In addition, this research demonstrates
that the female body is depicted in two distinct ways: the “heavenly body” and the “infernal
body.” The female heavenly body is a symbol of complete delight and benefit, while the
female infernal body is a symbol of deception, sin, Satan, and adultery.
Keywords
Gender Metaphor
Narration
Qur'an Interpretation
Woman
Subjects
Holy Qur'an
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Journal of Woman in Culture and Arts
Volume 16, Issue 2
Summer 2024
Pages 197-219