Empowering Narratives: A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis of Gender Dynamics in Colleen Hoover’s It Starts With Us

Abstract

This study deploys the theoretical concept of Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA) methodology to the study of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Starts With Us, to examine gender roles and power dynamics in the novel. The analysis investigates the constructs and supports women’s actions, highlighting the characters' challenges to societal norms and the subversion of traditional social orders. The study also addresses the representation of gender relations, and power, linking these themes to the broader societal context of women’s lives. It studies the characters presented in the novel in the context of FCDA. Moreover, it studies the impact of gender and power used by Hoover in narrating the characters of the story in multiple ways. The analysis involves close reading of key passages and dialogues, identifying how the novel constructs and supports women’s actions, challenges societal norms, and engages with contemporary discourse on gender and power relations. This analysis explores gender parity and women empowerment in society, particularly enhancing ideas in “It Starts With Us”. The results reveal that the novel portrays female agency by showcasing characters who challenge traditional gender roles and assert their autonomy. However, the novel also critiques societal norms related to gender and power, offering a critical perspective on conventional expectations and discussions on gender equality.

Keywords: contemporary literature, Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA), gender dynamics, narrative representation, power relationships