Azerbaijani Literature and the Gendered Narratives of Nationhood

Azerbaijani Literature and the Gendered Narratives of Nationhood explores the dynamic relationship between Azerbaijani literature and the region's socio-political history. It examines how literature reflects and shapes national identity, with a focus on the gendered dimensions of this process. Analyzing literary works across different historical periods, this book reveals evolving gender roles and their portrayal in literature, highlighting the complex interaction between gender, literature, and the narratives that define gender identity. It offers a deep exploration of how women's identities have been shaped, represented, and transformed in Azerbaijani literature from the 12th century to the post-Soviet era. Drawing on key gender theories, including the works of Judith Butler and Candace West, it examines how patriarchal structures have both restricted and enabled women's agency across different historical periods. Through this, the volume traces the tension between tradition and modernity, highlighting how authors, as representatives of their times, perceived these tensions, interpreted them, and how they viewed the negotiation of gender roles, cultural norms, and national identity. Azerbaijani Literature and the Gendered Narratives of Nationhood is a valuable text for both students and scholars researching the history, literature and politics of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Shafag Dadashova is Associate Professor and Lecturer at ADA University, Baku, Azerbaijan.

1. Introduction 2. Azerbaijani Poetry and Gender Representation from the 12th to 17th Centuries 3. Transformation of Gender in 19th-Century Azerbaijani Literature 4. Gender and Nationhood at the Beginning of the 20th Century 5. Women's Voices at the Dawn of the 20th Century 6. Soviet Period: Gender, Ideology, and Literature 7. Post-Soviet Azerbaijani Literature and Evolving Gender Paradigms 8. Conclusion: Negotiating Identity Across Eras