Intersectional Approaches to Feminist Translation: Decolonizing Gender Narratives in Literary Translation

Authors

  • Jingyi Niu

    School of Foreign Languages, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i2.8447
Received: 3 December 2024 | Revised: 25 January 2025 | Accepted: 27 January 2025 | Published Online: 24 February 2025

Abstract

This study investigates intersectional feminist translation strategies in literary translation, focusing on the decolonization of gender narratives. Through textual analysis and case studies of feminist literary translations, we examine how translators navigate language, narrative structures, and cultural elements while maintaining cultural authenticity. The research analyzes translation techniques that address power dynamics and cultural preservation in gender representation. Our analysis covers multiple dimensions: linguistic choices in preserving gender markers, narrative strategies in maintaining cultural storytelling patterns, and cultural negotiations in representing gender roles. Through examining translations of works by authors like Mahasweta Devi, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Isabel Allende, we explore how translators balance feminist perspectives with cultural authenticity. A framework for analyzing intersectional dynamics in translation is developed, focusing on how different identity categories interact with translation dimensions including cultural mediation, power relations, and translation impact. Our findings demonstrate that effective feminist translation requires understanding complex intersections of identity and power structures within both source and target cultures. The study reveals how translators can challenge colonial language hierarchies while accurately representing gender relations across cultures. Analysis of specific translation strategies shows how cultural preservation can be balanced with feminist goals through careful linguistic and narrative choices. This research contributes to feminist translation studies by providing new frameworks for understanding cultural sensitivity in translation practice and offers insights for future intersectional translation work. The findings have implications for feminist peace-building practices and expand the boundaries of feminist translation theory.

Keywords:

Feminist Translation; Intersectionality; Decolonial Translation; Gender Narratives; Literary Translation; Cultural Identity; Power Relations; Translation Strategies

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How to Cite

Niu, J. (2025). Intersectional Approaches to Feminist Translation: Decolonizing Gender Narratives in Literary Translation. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(2), 925–936. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i2.8447

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 2 (February 2025)

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Jingyi Niu, Pei-Wei Ren

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.