International Journal of English and Applied Linguistics (IJEAL)
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): Volume 5 Nomor 2 Agustus 2025

Multicultural Female Identity in Jean Kwok’s Novel Girl in Translation

Tsabita Tuffahati (Unknown)
Suardi, Suardi (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2025

Abstract

The study explores the power relations embedded within the construction of female identity in Girl in Translation, a novel portraying the immigrant experience of Kimberly, a young Chinese girl who relocates to Brooklyn, New York. Confronted by cultural barries and socioeconomic hardship, Kimberly’s journey reveals tensions surrounding gender and societal expectations. Employing a qualitative approach under a constructivist paradigm, this reasearch applies Michel Foucault’s theory of power to analyze the depiction of gender dynamics in the narrative. The findings indicate two distinct manifestation of power; epistemic power, shaped through discourse and informal knowledge, and corporeal power, exercised over the body. These forms of domination influence patterns of thought and behavior within male-female relationships, as illustrated through Kimberly’s personal and social interactions. Ultimately, the study highlights how the novel critiques normative structures and foregrounds the subtle mechanisms of control within everyday life.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijeal

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Aim and Scope International Journal of English and Applied Linguistic (IJEAL) is an International Journal that is published three times a year, namely in April, August, and December. IJEAL publishes manuscripts within the fields of: 1. English Language Teaching and Learning 2. Linguistics and ...