Date of Award
Spring 5-2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Degree Program
English
Department
English
Major Professor
Doll, Dan
Second Advisor
Maxwell, Justin
Third Advisor
Steeby, Elizabeth
Abstract
Neil Gaiman’s use of a hyper-masculine American culture in American Gods sheds light upon the multiple issues surrounding a misogynistic society in which women are treated as sexual objects and punished for their independence as sexual beings. Gaiman’s efforts at highlighting these issues are discreet and hidden under layers of patriarchal expectations, but through the use of his protagonist, Shadow, Gaiman is able to provide an alternative to the society he represents. While he successfully illustrates this more “ideal” society, his endeavors fall short and are almost imperceptible throughout his novel. Gaiman’s work in American Gods, while lacking in its overall presence, brings attention to the issues within a hyper-masculine society and it is through this unique, feminist approach that Gaiman is able to present his strong argument for change.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Christopher P., "Discreet Feminism: Neil Gaiman’s Subversion of the Patriarchal Society in American Gods" (2015). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2026.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2026
Included in
Literature in English, North America Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.