Arianna Nicole Bartolone
"A Science Fiction and Dystopian Fantasy Have Reinforced Societal and Historical Stereotypes of the Feminine Role and 21st Century Novels Seek to Reconstruct Women's Assertion in These Genres"
Faculty Mentor(s): Prof. Timothy Miller
Abstract: Science fiction and dystopian fantasy novels typically represent the stereotypical and inferiority of females portrayed in such literature. There is an inferior representation of intelligence and dominance of women that is present in such novels that is overruled by male superiority because of societal and historical norms. In this thesis I shall argue that J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series reinforces female inferiority and how Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent Series redirected the female presence in dystopian YA novels. Specifically, building on the research of the injustice of feminine dominance in the field of gender studies, I shall demonstrate the wrongdoing of science fiction and dystopian novels and compare how new novels in the genre redirect the feminine role. In this thesis, I shall also offer a gender studies critique of gender roles in young adult science fiction and fantasy.
Bio: Arianna Bartolone is a graduating senior at Florida Atlantic University and a student in the Department of English's Honors Program. Arianna has explored different methodological approaches in her research and undergraduate courses. She is also preparing to start a Graduate Teaching Assistantship in the M.A. in English Program for Fall 2023.