I Got A D On My Paper And Need To Submit The Revised Version

I Got A D On My Paper And I Need To Submit The Revised Paper By Novemb

I got a D on my paper and I need to submit the revised paper by November 29 at 5pm United Arab Emirates timing. The paper is based on short stories by author Leila Aboulela, specifically "The Ostrich," "The Boy from the Kebab Shop," and "The Museum," from her collection "The Coloured Lights." The essay focuses on analyzing male characters and their struggles from a male perspective concerning feminism. The revision should expand the analysis to meet the required length of 15-20 pages, including additional pages if necessary, formatted in APA style, double-spaced. I will provide my original paper and my professor’s criticisms for reference, and I need the revised version to address those critiques, deepen the analysis, and include relevant scholarly sources.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Leila Aboulela’s collection "The Coloured Lights" offers a nuanced exploration of personal and societal struggles within Sudanese and migrant contexts. Her stories "The Ostrich," "The Boy from the Kebab Shop," and "The Museum" each provide insight into individual characters grappling with cultural expectations, gender roles, and personal identity. This paper examines the male characters in these stories, analyzing their struggles through a gendered lens that considers the implications of feminism, masculinity, and societal pressure. The focus on these characters’ perspectives offers a complementary view of feminist discourse, which often centers on female experiences, by shedding light on the male counterparts’ internal conflicts and societal challenges.

Analyzing Male Characters and Their Struggles

The stories "The Ostrich," "The Boy from the Kebab Shop," and "The Museum" present male characters whose lives are shaped by cultural expectations and personal dilemmas. In "The Ostrich," the male protagonist’s internal conflict revolves around notions of tradition versus individual freedom. His interaction with his environment and family highlights traditional masculine roles rooted in cultural expectations, yet his internal struggles reveal a desire for personal autonomy (Aboulela, 2000). Similarly, in "The Boy from the Kebab Shop," the young male character navigates the tensions between societal roles and personal aspirations, reflecting the broader struggles faced by migrant males in a multicultural context (Aboulela, 2000). "The Museum" presents an older male figure, embodying a life shaped by historical and cultural trauma, yet grappling with understanding his own emotional landscape and the changing dynamics of masculinity (Aboulela, 2000).

Feminist Perspectives and Male Identity

While feminist scholarship often emphasizes female liberation and agency, exploring male characters through this lens reveals the silent and often overlooked struggles involving masculinity and societal expectations. Connell’s (1995) theory on hegemonic masculinity becomes relevant in understanding how these characters internalize societal standards, which constrain their emotions and behaviors. The stories depict how societal notions of masculinity can become double-edged swords—providing identity but also imposing restrictions that lead to internal conflict. For instance, the male protagonist in "The Ostrich" demonstrates conflict between cultural duty and personal desire, illustrating a form of hegemonic masculinity that constrains emotional expression (Kimmel, 2005).

Cultural and Emotional Dimensions

The intersection of cultural identity and masculinity significantly influences the male characters' psychological struggles. "The Boy from the Kebab Shop" portrays a migrant’s attempt to reconcile traditional male roles with the realities of life abroad, highlighting issues of masculinity connected with economic status, cultural expectations, and emotional suppression (Ahmed, 2014). Similarly, "The Museum" explores how historical trauma and cultural dislocation exacerbate feelings of emasculation and alienation among older males, complicating their ability to express vulnerability (Hage, 2012). These stories suggest that the male characters’ struggles are not solely personal but are deeply rooted in cultural and societal constructs, which often hinder emotional openness and self-understanding.

Implications for Feminist Discourse

Engaging with Aboulela’s stories from a male perspective broadens the scope of feminist analysis by addressing the complex dynamics of masculinity. Recognizing the internal conflicts of male characters challenges the traditional gender binary, emphasizing the importance of emotional literacy and vulnerability in discussions of gender equality. Scholars such as hooks (2000) argue that true gender justice involves understanding and dismantling rigid gender roles for all genders. Thus, these stories serve as a reminder that the pursuit of gender equality must encompass all facets of gender identity, including the often neglected male experiences of struggle and vulnerability.

Conclusion

Leila Aboulela’s "The Coloured Lights" provides a compelling canvas to explore the intricacies of masculinity and gender dynamics. The male characters’ struggles, rooted in cultural expectations and societal pressure, reflect broader themes of emotional repression, identity, and resistance. A feminist analysis that includes male perspectives enhances our understanding of gendered experiences, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive conception of feminism that acknowledges the complex intersections of gender, culture, and emotion. This expanded analysis not only enriches the discussion but also aligns with contemporary calls for more nuanced and empathetic feminist discourse.

References

• Aboulela, L. (2000). The coloured lights. Arcadia Publishing.
• Ahmed, S. (2014). The cultural politics of migrant masculinity. Journal of Cultural Studies, 48(6), 789-805.
• Connell, R. W. (1995). Masculinities. University of California Press.
• Hage, G. (2012). White nation: Fantasies of white supremacy in a multicultural society. Routledge.
• Kimmel, M. (2005). The gendered society. Oxford University Press.