Female Subjectivity in Early Twenty-First-Century Novels by Women Writers from the Mekong Delta: A Feminist Perspective

Abstract

This article examines the representation of female subjectivity in early twenty-first-century novels by women writers from the Mekong Delta through the theoretical perspective of Simone de Beauvoir's feminist conception of the subject. Drawing upon feminist literary criticism, the study explores how female subjectivity is constructed through women's lived experiences, particularly in the contexts of love, marriage, and family life. Through textual Analysis of selected novels by Dạ Ngân, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Ngọc, Nguyễn Thị Mây, and Nguyễn Thị Diệp Mai. the article argues that these writers portray women not as passive objects within patriarchal discourse but as autonomous subjects who negotiate, challenge, and redefine traditional gender roles. By foregrounding women's emotional experiences, personal agency, and identity formation, these narratives contribute to the deconstruction of conventional gender stereotypes while affirming the complexity and legitimacy of women's gendered identities. The study highlights the distinctive contribution of Mekong Delta women writers to contemporary Vietnamese feminist literature by demonstrating how regional literary voices engage with broader feminist concerns regarding subjectivity, gender equality, and women's social existence. In doing so, the article enriches current scholarship on feminist literary criticism and contemporary Vietnamese literature.