Female Identity and Gender Dynamics in Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook: An Analysis of the Female Characters

Abstract

The exploration of female identity and gender dynamics, which provides a critical analysis of women's roles based on societal expectations in a mid-20th-century society, lies at the heart of Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook. Lessing explores the sociological forces that mold female identity via Anna and other female character’s experiences, touching on issues of fragmented self, motherhood, female autonomy, and sexual freedom. The text, in addition to reflecting Anna's internal conflict, highlights the conflicts that exist between an individual's desires and societal norms, criticizing the traditional gender roles that are imposed on women and the unique true identity that each female character possesses. Various articles, texts, and journals were used for secondary data besides The Golden Notebook text, which was the primary source for data findings. This paper aims to identify the underlying factors that play a role in the construction of the identity of the female characters and how gender dynamics contribute to the marginalization of women and sexual oppression in society.