The Male Identity and Masculinity Through Gender Roles in Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waoby Junot Diaz

Abstract

Gender is a problematic issue on which numerous discussions and surveys have been made throughout the centuries. Especially, since more than two hundred years the feminine and masculine roles have been among the main concerns of writers and theorists. However, in time the clear cut differences between female and male roles become more blurred. Actually, the female reactions and feminist movements help the improvements in female life and her value in patriarchal societies. Yet, the male roles and masculinitycannot be erased from social life and they change from culture to culture even from religion to religion. The aim of this paper is to show the male identity and masculinity through the gender roles in Appalachian Society and Dominican society. The main idea of this research is illustrated and supported by the examples from Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.