Alexandra Stamson
Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Purchase College, State University of New York, USA.

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Abstract
This piece considers the way that we can use fictional narratives, especially secondary world stories, to examine the way that gender is translated from one world to another, and how that translation often perpetuates gender stereotypes, hierarchical biases, and sustained gender oppression. In the final section of this paper, three concepts of narrative design are defined: gender-apparent, gender-insinuated, and gender-absent. All three concepts explain how gender can be presented in secondary worlds, with gender-apparent narratives referring to gender being presented explicitly, gender-insinuated as implicitly, and gender-absent as excluded, and the benefits and detriments of all three. The goal of this piece is to provide methods of analysis for fictional narratives in relation to the presentation of contemporary gender systems and the possibility of perpetuating damaging ideologies.

Keywords: Gender theory, narrative theory, media studies, gender-apparent narratives, gender-insinuated narratives, gender-absent narratives, speculative fiction and fantasy, norms, norm/anti-norm, hermeneutical resources, gender binary, secondary worlds.

Saira Genoveva Galindo Castro
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

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Abstract
This comprehensive research investigates the complex nexus of agency, power dynamics, cultural nuances, resistance, and indigenous perspectives, with a particular focus on feminist theories and insights from Sherry Ortner. This research focuses on the perpetuation of traditional gender roles among Nahua, Purépecha, and Totonac women and girls migrating to rural-urban areas in the State of Mexico, specifically San Francisco Tepojaco, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico State, Mexico. It examines how ethnic cultural frameworks and the prevalence of gender-based violence contribute to these roles, utilizing Pierre Bourdieu’s habitus theory. The study advocates for contesting and reforming entrenched gender norms to achieve genuine gender parity. Adopting a materialist and transnational lens, the study underscores the critical need to redefine notions of agency, tethering them to a critique of neoliberal capitalism and confronting the entrenched gender binary prevalent in the neoliberal epoch. It underscores the paramountcy of active and quotidian agency, advocating for an intersectional approach that grapples with the multifaceted dimensions of gender oppression, inclusive of the unique experiences of Nahua, Purépecha, and Totonac communities. Moreover, it underscores the efficacy of collective agency in challenging habitus and reshaping deeply ingrained cultural norms. Within this framework, the paper delves into the perpetuation of traditional gender roles among Nahua, Purépecha, and Totonac women and girls migrating to rural-urban areas in the State of Mexico.
Keywords: Agency, Power, Culture, Gender, Domination, Feminist Theories.

Kashfia Israt
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of English and Humanities, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

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Abstract
This article explores Ursula K. Le Guin’s science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness, which has had a significant impact on current gender discourse by challenging traditional binary conceptions of gender. Set in the fictional world of Gethen, inhabited by Gethenians with ambisexual traits, Le Guin questions the rigidity of gender categories and considers alternative understandings of gender. This study applies feminist and queer theories to analyse how gender is fluid and shaped by society, challenging widespread heteronormative concepts. More specifically, Judith Butler’s concept of Gender Performativity has been taken as the theoretical framework of this study. The research aims to answer two main questions: How does the novel’s narrative challenge traditional views on gender roles, and what broader cultural implications does this uncover? The findings mainly focus on how any person like Genly starts to think beyond his fixed and rigid heteronormative concepts of gender identity and what leads to his realisation of the necessity of embracing diverse gender identities in human society to ensure harmony and equality. This is significant because Genly’s journey through the novel highlights today’s critical issue: securing the rights and acceptance of individuals marginalised and stigmatised for not conforming to traditional gender norms. Overall, the study aims to advance our understanding of gender dynamics beyond the binary through the transformative power of literary and theoretical discussions.

Keywords: Ambisexual, Gender Fluidity, Cultural Identity, Heteronormativity, Queer Theory.

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