РОДОТ КАКО ИДЕНТИТЕТ ВО МАКЕДОНСКАТА НАРОДНА КУЛТУРА
GENDER AS IDENTITY IN MACEDONIAN FOLK CULTURE

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the concept of identity, which is defined as something fluid, flexible and variable in various manifestations, numerous positions and different moments. Later on, the paper deals with gender as identity, which is being defined as social construct with multiple and more complex categories of identity in comparison to biological determination. The theoretical considerations are consequently followed by applicative analysis, where the paper aims at defining gender as identity in the frames of the Macedonian folk culture. Namely, using illustration from a number of folk creations, the paper presents the image of the socio-cultural challenges of construction of gender identity, with emphasis on the most frequent stereotypes and prejudices rooted in the patriarchal milieu. At the same time, the paper points out the cases that prove some personal struggles against the collective notions such as cross dressing or open-minded approach towards eroticism and sex, together with the efforts against the gender inequality. Thus, the paper concludes that the construction of one’s personal gender identity is being significantly influenced by the collective identities, however sometimes it is being modified and transformed in compliance with the individual perceptions.

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