„Das Patriarchat tötet“: Neueste feministische Literatur vom Westbalkan in Übersetzung
„Patriarchy Kills“: Recent Feminist Writing from the Western Balkans in Translation

Summary/Abstract: The article presents new books written by Lana Bastašić (Bosnia and Hercegovina), Lindita Arapi (Albania) and Rumena Bužarovska (North Macedonia). Two of them are transnational authors who have left the Balkans. All three authors describe domestic violence, sexual abuse and oppression in different regional contexts. Only Bastašić writes about ethnic conflicts during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, whereas the Albanian case seems conditioned by totalitarian spying and the social pressure of extended families. How do the authors position themselves in the asymmetrical and hierarchical relationship between the Balkans and the West? Despite their realistic descriptions of the Balkan patriarchy, they are aware of existing mutual hetero stereotyping and actively decide against a one-sided position. Especially Bužarovska’s and Arapi’s books avoid being labeled as supporters of Balkan-related orientalism. At the same time they oppose occidentalist and anti-Western currents in the Western Balkans.

• Details
• Contents