Reinterpreting tradition through Feminist Literary Theory: Gendered narratives in folktales

Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli ORCID iD 

Issue: Vol. 7 No.5  2026 Article 2 pp.1183 – 1194
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026752 Published online 23rd June 2026

© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Folktales have long been used as cultural objects to convey values, customs, and social standards throughout generations. This study investigated the portrayal of gender roles in traditional folktales through Feminist Literary Theory, examining how these narratives generate and reinforce societal gender expectations. The study considers folktales from African and East Slavic traditions for recurring themes of female agency, male authority, and gendered morality. The study adopted a qualitative content analysis methodology, with an emphasis on textual interpretation and comparative analysis of chosen folktales. Primary sources included oral and written folktales, while secondary sources offered feminist and literary analysis. According to the findings, traditional folktales frequently show women as weak and subservient, whereas men represent power and heroism. However, current versions defy these assumptions by reinventing female characters as empowered and resilient, reflecting changing cultural attitudes toward gender. The discussion focused on the consequences of these findings for cultural identity, education, and gender representation in literature. It contends that folktales, like developing narratives, can either reinforce or undermine gender biases. The study recommends introducing gender-sensitive storytelling into school courses and encouraging inclusive retellings of traditional narratives. This study contributes to the broader conversation on gender and literature by incorporating Feminist Literary Theory into folktale analysis, emphasizing the importance of a critical re-evaluation of traditional storytelling. It emphasizes the importance of folktales in creating contemporary gender perspectives and calls for more inclusive narratives in cultural and literary studies.

Keywords: Girl Child, Folk Narrative, Re-Telling, Discourse Analysis.

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Ms. Nontokozo Gladys Mdhluli started her teaching career at Siphumelele Secondary School in 2013, where she found her love for language development and teaching. Ms. Mdhluli has written a great deal about literature and how feminist theories may be used to reinterpret traditions. Her writing has been featured in respectable journals and book chapters both domestically and abroad. She is working on her doctorate and has been actively supporting linguistic and cultural development as a board member of the National Language Body (NLB) since 2024.  Her important contributions to scholarly writing, language development, and Siswati cultural studies ensure the preservation and ongoing development of Siswati’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

Mdhluli, Nontokozo Gladys. “Reinterpreting tradition through Feminist Literary Theory: Gendered narratives in folktales.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.5 (2026): 1183 – 1194. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2026752

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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