THE SOCIAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN OYBEK’S “ULUG‘ YO‘L”: A FEMINIST INTERPRETATION

Abstract

Background. The representation of women in literature has been widely examined within feminist literary criticism, particularly in the works of scholars such as Elaine Showalter, who emphasized the importance of analyzing female experience and women’s writing traditions, and Judith Butler, whose theory of gender performativity redefined the understanding of gender as a social construct. In Central Asian studies, Marianne Kamp has explored the transformation of women’s roles in Uzbekistan during the Soviet period, highlighting the tension between tradition and modernity. Within this theoretical framework, this article examines the social role of women in “Ulugʻ yoʻl” by Oybek. The novel reflects a period of profound socio-political transformation in twentieth-century Uzbekistan, making it a valuable source for analyzing the changing representation of women and their participation in social life.

Research methods and materials. The research is based on feminist literary criticism and gender theory as the primary methodological framework. Comparative and textual analysis methods are applied to examine the depiction of female identity, agency, and social participation in the novel. The analysis focuses on character development, narrative strategies, and the interaction between tradition and modernity as reflected through female images.

Results and discussion. The study reveals that while traces of patriarchal ideology remain visible in the narrative structure, the novel simultaneously presents women as socially conscious individuals capable of influencing their surroundings. Female characters are portrayed as moral supporters, intellectual companions, and contributors to social transformation. The tension between inherited cultural norms and emerging modern values highlights the gradual redefinition of women’s social roles. From a feminist perspective, “Ulugʻ yoʻl” demonstrates an evolving literary vision in which women are depicted not merely as symbolic figures but as subjects with personal agency and social significance.

Conclusion. The analysis confirms that the representation of women in “Ulugʻ yoʻl” reflects broader changes in Uzbek society during the Soviet period. Through its portrayal of female participation in social life, the novel contributes to the development of a more complex and dynamic image of women in Uzbek prose. Thus, a feminist interpretation of the work allows for a deeper understanding of gender discourse and the transformation of female identity in twentieth-century Uzbek literature.