Intersectionality and Cultural Hegemony

Unravelling Gender, Class, and Religious Oppression in The Kurdish Bike

Abstract

Alesa Lightbourne's The Kurdish Bike: A Novel is a narrative of Kurdish culture through the eyes of an American woman, especially the image of women in Kurdish society. This study focuses on Kurdish people, with a particular focus on Kurdish women, by examining gender dynamics, class distinction, and religious and cultural norms that shape the identity of individuals. The study scrutinizes women's identity and oppression through employing Kimberlé Crenshaw's theoretical framework of intersectionality. The study explores how women are conditioned by the patriarchal system. In addition, the study will apply Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemony to examine the impact of cultural norms and religion on prevailing dominant ideologies in society. Overall, through this multidisciplinary approach, the study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the image of women as depicted by the writer. Another aim of the study is to examine to what extent the text represents Kurdish culture. This study argues that Kurdish women suffer from different sources of oppression such as, gender inequality, socioeconomic status, cultural norms, and traditions justified under the guise of religious customs within Kurdish society. It also contends that the novel inaccurately represents Kurdish culture due to the writer's limited regional experience, reliance on stereotypes about Kurdish women, and incorrect claims about female genital mutilation, which academic research shows occurs at a much lower rate than depicted.