Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

French

Advisor

Maxime Blanchard

Committee Members

Sam Di Iorio

Francesca Canadé Sautman

Subject Categories

French and Francophone Literature

Keywords

Iranian Diaspora, Iranian French Literature, Literature of Exile, Immigrant Women Authors, Francophonie, Life Narratives, Nostalgia and Memory, Écriture Féminine, Feminism, Women Rights Advocacy, and Cultural Identity.

Abstract

This study aims to contribute to the broader understanding of Persian literature in exile by focusing on the narratives of Persian Francophone immigrant women. By positioning these writers as influential voices in the transforming landscape of Francophone literature, this research seeks to illuminate the ways in which Iranian diasporic literature is evolving and how these writers navigate complex questions of identity, belonging, and heritage in their works. This research will be conducted on selected works of three of these authors employing an interpretive approach and a textual literary analysis. Moving beyond conventional biographical and historical analysis, the study will explore how the intricate processes of identity disintegration and reformulation shape the narrative structure, thematic elements, and linguistic choices within the literature of these Iranian Francophone women writers’ literature. Furthermore, this research will investigate the role of these authors in advocating for women's rights and amplifying women's voices through their writings. By situating their works within the broader context of the global feminist discourse, the research seeks to challenge traditional boundaries and enrich the literary canon with diverse perspectives, highlighting the significance of Persian Francophone immigrant women's voices in shaping contemporary literature and cultural discourse. The study aims to examine how the concept of Écriture Féminine1 developed by French feminist theorists, is manifested in the works of Negar Djavadi, Chahdortt Djavann, and Maryam Madjidi. Here, Écriture Féminine serves not as a prescriptive category but as a nuanced interpretive framework. This thesis foregrounds “writing the self” as a foundational framework for exploring Persian French literary works, highlighting its role in constructing narratives of identity and cultural hybridity.

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