Women’s Agency: A Response to Masculine Configuration in the Poems of Warsan Shire

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ID: 332714
2026
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Abstract
This paper explores the construction of masculinity and its intersectional effects on women in Somali society in Warsan Shire’s Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head, a collection of poetry. Drawing upon R. W. Connell’s conceptualisation of hegemonic masculinity, Louis Althusser’s concept of ideology, with additional support from other feminist theorists, the research studies how the patriarchal system socially engineers gender and develops unequal power relations. The analysis uncovers the manifestation of masculinity in Somali culture via social institutions that privilege men while subordinating women across gender, racial, and class hierarchies. Shire’s poetry portrays these structures through vivid depictions of domestic, sexual, and economic oppression, demonstrating the internalisation and perpetuation of patriarchal ideology through cultural narratives and social practices. Moreover, Shire’s work voices resistance—asserting knowledge, solidarity, and self-awareness as forms of empowerment. Within the framework of feminist, masculinity, and cultural theoretical paradigms, this research establishes Shire’s work as both a critique of systemic oppression and an articulation of women’s agency in reclaiming subjectivity. Ultimately, the study underscores Shire’s contribution to Somali and global feminist discourse, highlighting her poetic reconstruction of gendered identities as a call for social transformation and equality.
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dawar2026womens Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Haider Ihsan Dawar, Maria Shah
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Journal Oriental College Magazine
Year 2026
DOI
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URL
https://ocm.pu.edu.pk/website/journal/article/6a02dbbfcb5c0/page
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