The transformation of female identity in Aysel Özakın's Alnında Mavi Kuşlar (Blue Birds on Her Forehead): A feminist reading

187 Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences, 6(4), 187-186, Dec. 2025 e-ISSN: 2717-7602 dergipark.org.tr/press Genc Bilge Publishing Ltd. (Young Wise) © 2025 gencbilgeyayincilik.com Research Article The transformation of female identity in Aysel Özakın’s Alnında Mavi Kuşlar (Blue Birds on Her Forehead): A feminist reading Şükran Dönmez 1 Department of Turkish Language and Literature, Istanbul Aydın University, Istanbul, Türkiye Article Info Abstract Received: 25 September 2025 Accepted: 20 November 2025 Online: 30 December 2025 Keywords: Alnında Mavi Kuşlar Aysel Özakın Female identity Feminist criticism Gender Literary analysis 2717-7602/ © 2025 by PRESS. Published by Genc Bilge (Young Wise) Pub. Ltd. This is an open access article under CC BY-NC-ND license Aysel Özakın, one of the prominent writers of modern Turkish literature, addresses the transformation of female identity in her novel Alnında Mavi Kuşlar. The novel highlights patriarchal order, social pressures, and gender roles transmitted across generations, revealing the constraints these impose on women. The protagonist Armağan’s resistance to these limitations plays a decisive role in her struggle for self-discovery, demonstrating that female identity is shaped not only through passive acceptance but also through active resistance. In this study, text analysis and thematic analysis, which are among qualitative research methods, were used. The analyses were grounded in a feminist theoretical approach. Butler’s concept of gender performativity, Bourdieu’s notion of masculine domination, and Kandiyoti’s theory of patriarchal bargaining provide the theoretical foundation for the analysis. These frameworks guide the interpretation of the female characters’ discourse, behavior, and experiences. Three main findings emerged from the analysis. First, the novel shows that patriarchal norms create a restrictive framework for the construction of female identity. The concept of womanhood is shaped around values such as family, honor, and obedience. Second, women’s lived experiences play a significant role in shaping female identity as they are transmitted to the next generation. The mother-daughter relationship between Armağan and her mother simultaneously reveals the inheritance of patriarchal values across generations and embodies the struggle against these imposed norms. Third, individual liberation and economic independence have a transformative impact on the reconstruction of female identity. The protagonist’s migration to a new city and the accompanying sense of loneliness are portrayed not only as symbols of liberation but also as the cost of resisting patriarchal norms. Alnında Mavi Kuşlar thus provides a significant example of female representation in modern Turkish literature. This study aims to contribute to feminist-oriented research in literature and social sciences by examining the transformation of female identity through the interaction between individual resistance and social norms. To cite this article Dönmez, Ş. (2025). The transformation of female identity in Aysel Özakın’s Alnında Mavi Kuşlar (Blue Birds on Her Forehead): A feminist reading. Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences, 6(4), 187196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17845736 Introduction Identity, beyond being a concept explained through biological sex codes, is also a phenomenon related to how individuals define themselves and the roles society assigns to them. Feminist theorists have made great efforts to overcome the claims that attempt to reduce female identity solely to biological determinism. According to them, female identity cannot be examined merely through this dimension; it should be evaluated as a phenomenon that is 1 MA Student, Department of Turkish Language and Literature, Istanbul Aydın University, Istanbul, Türkiye, Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0009-0006-3443-3121. Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 188 continuously reproduced within the historical process through patriarchal structures, social relations, and cultural norms (Chanter, 2019). While biological differences divide sex into two categories—female and male—gender represents the totality of roles attributed to these identities. It is a distinguishing element in how identity is shaped by society. Social structures form the fundamental basis on which identities are constructed. In patriarchal societies, transmitted values and norms determine the boundaries of femininity and masculinity (Oakley, 1972). The boundaries of femininity also directly penetrate women’s personal experiences. Individuals construct their identities through personal choices within family roles and public life—work, school, education—while simultaneously confronting the meanings imposed on them by society. Women’s efforts toward personal liberation and selfconstruction at times challenge traditional patterns and contribute to the redefinition of female identity (Ersöz, 2015). Literature is an important field that addresses the redefinition of female identity. Novels, in particular, are among the literary narratives that best reveal how the patriarchal order assigns roles to women and how women develop mechanisms of resistance against these roles (Şeker, 2019). Therefore, female representations in literature provide significant references for understanding the transformation processes of female identity. The Republican Period offers a framework in which representations of women in Turkish literature diversify in relation to the social changes brought by modernization. During this period, female protagonists were no longer confined solely to domestic roles but began to be depicted through concepts such as working life, education, and individual freedom (Cengiz, 2018). This tendency can be interpreted as a direct reflection of social transformations in literature. Patriarchal thought patterns continued to constrain female identity through norms of marriage, family, and social prestige. After the 1970s, with the increasing visibility of women writers, these restrictive frameworks were reinterpreted from a critical perspective. One of the writers adopting this perspective is Aysel Özakın, who frequently explores the transformation of female identity in her works. The period in which Alnında Mavi Kuşlar was written was marked by social and political turbulence in Turkey. The rise of leftist ideology, accelerated urban migration, issues of belonging emerging through urbanization, and the growing visibility of the women’s movement were key factors shaping this era. Although women’s increasing participation in the public sphere was supported by modernization discourses, it was simultaneously constrained by patriarchal structures (Kutlu, 2023). This historical background provides an important context for understanding that the struggles for liberation among the novel’s female characters are imbued with both hope and tension. Thus, Özakın’s novel is not only about the issue of female identity but also serves as a literary reflection of the socio-political dynamics of its time. The main aim of this study is to examine the transformation of female identity in Özakın’s Alnında Mavi Kuşlar within the framework of feminist theory. The novel reveals the restrictive effects of patriarchal roles and intergenerational norms on women’s experiences. At this point, the protagonist Armağan’s individual quest for identity reflects both the pressures and limitations created by patriarchal structures and the opportunities and costs of pursuing personal freedom. The tension experienced by the protagonist offers a significant clue to understanding the conflict female identity faces between resistance and social norms. Other female characters in the novel also reveal the mechanisms that sustain the continuity of patriarchal systems in similar ways. The association of women exclusively with themes such as family, marriage, and social prestige delineates the boundaries of their identity while simultaneously revealing the ways in which these boundaries are transcended. Therefore, the novel not only presents an individual struggle for liberation but also examines the impact of cultural codes on identity, the intergenerational transmission of gender, and the process of subjectification. In this respect, the study aims to make a critical contribution to the literature on female identity in Turkish literature by analyzing the literary reflection of women’s identity transformation. Problem of Study This study examines how female identity is shaped in Aysel Özakın’s novel Alnında Mavi Kuşlar in relation to patriarchal norms and gender roles, and how it undergoes transformation through the interaction between social norms and Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 189 individual resistance. The research problem focuses on analyzing how the restrictive effects of patriarchal norms, the transmission of womanhood experiences from mother to daughter, and the individual’s orientation toward subjectivation manifest within the literary structure of the novel. The main focus of the study is to explore how female identity changes within this field of interaction through a feminist framework, by identifying the social and cultural mechanisms that constrain it and the forms of individualization through which it is transformed. Method This study employs the qualitative research method of text analysis and thematic analysis method. The text analysis method was chosen because it allows for the examination of the multilayered structure of the novel, the reflection of gender on the characters, and the visibility of the transformation processes of female identity. A successful example of this approach can also be seen in Jale Parla’s work From Don Quixote to the Present: The Novel. While Parla analyzes the multilayered structure of the novel through textual analysis—particularly elements such as narrative and plot—she also demonstrates the transformation processes of female protagonists like “Tatyana” through thematic analysis (Parla, 2020). Aysel Özakın’s Alnında Mavi Kuşlar was analyzed within the framework of feminist theory. Thematic analysis was adopted as the analytical strategy, and the discourses, behaviors, experiences, and identity formation processes of the characters were evaluated from a feminist critical perspective. In this process, patriarchal norms and the construction of female identity, intergenerational transmission, and individual liberation were determined as the main focal themes. As this study is based solely on the analysis of a literary work, no generalizations about social reality are made. Theoretical Framework: Feminist Theory and the Construction of Gender While feminist theory attributes sex to nature and biology, it considers gender as a set of relations constructed through social interactions, cultural norms, and power mechanisms (Dökmen, 2009). This process of construction manifests itself in many areas such as education, law, and daily life. Therefore, gender can be considered not only an individual matter of identity but also a constitutive factor that affects women’s social status, their roles in family and public spheres, and even their representations in literature. Femininity is not an innate essence. The more social interaction increases, the more women are subjected to imposed norms. “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” (Beauvoir, 2019). This perspective rejects the idea that female identity is a natural destiny, allowing us instead to regard it as a continuously reproduced and socially constructed category. The patriarchal order is a structure that establishes the gender regime in favor of men and subjects female identity to certain restrictions and expectations in both private and public spheres. This structure not only operates through norms but also exerts control over the female body. One of the determining elements emerging in the reconstruction and formation of gender in everyday life is the act of “gender attribution” (Kessler & McKenna, 1985). The classification of individuals based on gender stems not from biological differences but from social norms and symbols. Thus, the binary gender distinction is understood not as a natural necessity but as a social construct. The roles attributed to women and men are mentally embedded through this symbolic order in everyday habits, public life, and social roles. These schemas play a crucial role, especially in the ways the female body is interpreted and represented (Bourdieu, 2015). The transformation of the body into a social field of representation leads to its interpretation through cultural codes. The definition of the body, particularly sexual organs, is a product of social construction (Bourdieu, 2015, p. 36). Therefore, the continuity of the patriarchal system is maintained through the inscription of gendered codes onto the body and habitus. The positioning of female characters in society and their literary representations appear as reflections of these internalized schemas. From an early age, younger individuals learn which behavioral patterns are appropriate for each gender through parental attitudes. This learning process becomes functional as girls are directed toward domestic roles, while boys are Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 190 oriented toward more active roles in the public sphere (Ekiz & Zabun, 2025). Thus, gender roles become a regulatory structure transmitted from generation to generation through the family institution. Along with the transmission of gender roles, women’s labor becomes identified with domestic work, thereby deepening existing social inequalities. Therefore, examining the dimension of gender within the family institution allows for the evaluation of how women’s domestic labor is positioned within cultural and historical contexts. Throughout history, women’s domestic roles have been devalued, which has played a critical role in limiting their position in society. The notion that “housework is cultural and historical” (Bora, 2010) demonstrates that domestic labor is not merely an individual act but a product of social relations and gender-based division of labor. Consequently, women’s labor, in all its forms—paid or unpaid—defines the social boundaries of female identity. In the literary field as well, the visibility of female characters is often shaped through the relationship this labor establishes with social values. The devaluation of women’s labor from past to present is one of the factors that emerged in the process of constructing gender. Domestic roles have been classified as a “natural duty” for women and therefore have not been recognized as a valuable form of labor within the economic system. Historical sources show that women actively participated in both social and productive fields—from agriculture to crafts, from community organization to charity work—yet their contributions have not been sufficiently recorded in official documents or collective memory (Wiesner-Hanks, 2020). This can be interpreted as a result of the patriarchal perception of labor, which separates value on the basis of gender. The devaluation of women’s labor is not only an economic inequality but also a form of cultural domination that limits female identity. Gender is not an essence but a performative matter constructed through repetitive practices and discourses. This approach reveals that female identity is not static but rather a continuously reproduced process that takes different forms depending on context (Butler, 2013). Thus, female identity is shaped not only by personal experiences but also by roles repeated in accordance with social expectations. The representations of female characters in literary texts are cultural reflections of these performative processes. The ways in which female characters express themselves, their attitudes, and the social constraints they face reveal how gender is reconstructed in different ways. Butler argues that performativity is not a conscious act of role-playing as on a theatrical stage. Rather, it is an act necessitated by social norms, particularly by the compulsory heterosexual matrix (Butler, 2007). Gender does not accept the model of a subject (“doer”) that precedes the act (“deed”). Instead, it is produced retroactively through a series of reiterated acts performed by the subject (Butler, 2013). This process operates as a sequence of performative repetitions that have no fixed origin (Butler, 2007). Identities understood by society as original and natural (masculinity/femininity) are in fact imitations generated through compulsory repetition. Over time, they become normalized and turn into the illusion of an essential identity. According to Butler, femininity—gradually perceived as an essential identity—should be understood as a discursively constructed performance (Karaosmanoğlu, 2025). Most representational politics that speak on behalf of women risk reproducing existing hierarchies by presenting womanhood as a universal and fixed identity, thereby excluding differences such as sexuality, race, and class (Butler, 2013). Consequently, the thesis that identity does not rely on a stable essence but instead represents an ongoing performative potential opens new avenues for analyzing protagonists in literary texts. In addition to Butler’s emphasis on the performativity of identity, feminist thought in Turkey has discussed female identity not only in relation to the patriarchal order but also through modernization and political participation processes. It has been pointed out that the rights women gained during modernization were limited by family and state policies (Tekeli, 1990). Even in democratic systems, women have historically been excluded from political decision-making mechanisms (Sumbas, 2015), and they have often been forced to operate within a “men’s club” structure in politics (Çakır, 2013). This literature demonstrates that the female characters in the novel engage in a struggle for identity intertwined not only with individual liberation but also with issues of political and social representation. Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 191 In this context, Alnında Mavi Kuşlar reveals not only a story of personal emancipation but also a transformation of identity shaped by the interweaving of intergenerationally transmitted value judgments, the opportunities provided by modernization, and the constraints created by patriarchal structures. The experiences of Armağan and the other female characters manifest the concrete literary reflections of the principles established by feminist theory. The gender order operates not only through the marginalization of women but also through hierarchies among men themselves. The concept of “hegemonic masculinity” demonstrates that social structure is built upon an idealized model of masculinity. This model reinforces the continuity of the patriarchal order by subordinating other forms of masculinity. Characteristics such as power, authority, rationality, and activity in the public sphere constitute its core traits. However, forms of masculinity shaped by different social positions remain in constant negotiation with this dominant structure. Female identity is positioned within these power relations; femininity is not only defined as the opposite of masculinity but also as a constantly negotiated identity shaped in response to the power dynamics imposed by hegemonic masculinity (Connell, 2019, p. 267). From this perspective, the relationship between male and female identities should not be viewed as a simple binary opposition but as the product of a multidimensional gender structure. Addressing the different dimensions of gender is strongly reflected in the ways female identity is represented in literary texts. The novel concretely reveals, through its characters, the oppression women experience in social life, the cultural norms transmitted by the family institution, and the inequalities experienced around identity. Therefore, the analysis of literary texts offers a critical methodological means of understanding female identity. In this context, Alnında Mavi Kuşlar presents not only a story of personal emancipation but also an identity transformation shaped by the intergenerational transmission of value systems, the opportunities provided by modernization, and the pressures created by the patriarchal order. The experiences of Armağan and other female characters expose the concrete literary reflections of feminist theory. Findings and Discussion Patriarchal Norms and the Social Construction of Female Identity The patriarchal order constitutes the fundamental framework that defines female identity. This system integrates women with concepts such as family, marriage, obedience, and honor, while assigning men positions of authority and dominance in the public sphere. Female identity emerges as a construct that is constantly reshaped through social norms and cultural codes. In Alnında Mavi Kuşlar, the experiences of female characters vividly illustrate how the patriarchal order encompasses individual lives, rendering its impact concrete in a literary context. During the 1950s and 1960s, the prevailing belief was that the role of women in both family and society would evolve through a transition from traditionalism to modernity. Scholars argued that modernization would expand women’s rights and lead to a more egalitarian order. However, it was later claimed that this assumption was not entirely accurate; modernization did not produce the expected effect and instead deepened gender divisions, even depriving women of certain “sources of power and privilege” they previously possessed (Kandiyoti, 2013). In Turkey’s modernization process, the ideal of creating a “modern Turkish family” and building a new society largely resulted in men engaging in the project of nation-building, while women were left to initiate modernization within the domestic sphere. Consequently, the woman’s role as a “family builder” gained prominence (Sancar, 2012). Thus, modernization did not become a liberating force for women; rather, it reshaped patriarchal structures and failed to fulfill expectations of gender equality in the public sphere. Alnında Mavi Kuşlar centers on the social structure of 1970s Turkey and explores how female identity is shaped under patriarchal order. The life of the protagonist, Armağan, develops around the entrenched gender norms of her family and society from an early age. These norms evaluate women not as individuals but as gendered subjects, defining them through ideals of obedience and chastity and confining them within domestic roles. Through flashbacks, the novel depicts Armağan’s childhood environment. Her mother refuses to send her to school, believing that her beauty will bring her trouble and harm her honor. Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 192 In contrast to the restricted roles assigned to women, men hold authority in public spaces and control decisionmaking mechanisms. The patriarchal system functions not only through individual preferences but also through social approval processes, family structures, and marriage institutions. Armağan is deeply troubled by the notion that a woman’s existence is confined to domestic life: “Don’t you love your fiancé? … I don’t know. I’m not really aware of it. I’m afraid of becoming a housewife…” (Özakın, 2007). The female protagonists in the novel, shaped by this social construction process, strive to develop subjective identities while simultaneously confronting the patriarchal domination imposed upon them. Armağan’s roommate, Tülin, rejects traditional feminine roles but constantly feels the need to justify herself in the face of the male gaze. Her actions and lifestyle are subject to male approval in both public and private spheres. The patriarchal structure is most evident in Armağan’s family experiences. Raised in a household governed by her father and brother’s authority, Armağan grows up under a strict discipline that confines her identity to domestic roles. Her statement, “They won’t let me go to school… My mother wants me to take care of her. And… they’re afraid. Because I’m too noticeable… (…) I’m afraid of becoming a housewife. I expect more from life.” (Özakın, 2007). clearly demonstrates the dominance exerted over her. A woman’s place in society is determined not only by her behavior but also by the approval mechanisms of her family and community. Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of “masculine domination” helps to explain this phenomenon, illustrating how patriarchy is reproduced not only through physical violence but also through cultural norms and symbolic power. Before moving to Istanbul, Armağan experiences an engagement process that openly reveals patriarchal control over women. Influenced by her family and social expectations, Armağan enters this relationship not as a matter of love, respect, or personal choice, but as an act of preserving family honor and conforming to societal norms. Her words, “Don’t you love your fiancé? … I don’t know. I’m not really aware of it. I’m afraid of becoming a housewife… I expect more from life.” (Özakın, 2007) expose how the patriarchal order renders women’s individual choices invisible and suppresses them through internalized fears. The feminist sociological approach regards marriage as an institution that restricts women’s economic, social, and symbolic autonomy within the patriarchal order, leaving them dependent on male protection and authority (Connell, 2019 ; Bora, 2010). In this context, the protagonist Armağan’s indecision and search for freedom during her engagement illustrate how female identity is constructed by family and social norms and how personal choices and desires are marginalized in the face of patriarchy. Thus, the novel allows the reader to interpret the women’s efforts toward liberation not merely as acts of individual rebellion but also as part of a collective resistance against patriarchal structures. After Armağan’s move to Istanbul, her adjustment to new environments demonstrates that the patriarchal order is not limited to the family sphere but also manifests itself in the public domain. Her aspirations to explore freely, adapt to social life, and participate in professional settings are constantly judged according to traditional values and social expectations. A woman’s presence in public space is frequently monitored through the male gaze and perceived as a potential threat. Another striking aspect of the novel is the internalization of patriarchal expectations by women themselves. Armağan’s attempts to suppress her dreams and behaviors by comparing herself to the ideal image of womanhood reflect Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus. This becomes particularly evident in her reflections on marriage. Observing how women around her withdraw into domestic life after marriage and are constantly occupied with household duties, she fears being trapped in similar patterns. When she contemplates the lives of her mother and other women—reduced to the roles of devoted wives and self-sacrificing mothers—she becomes anxious about losing her own freedom. Armağan’s expressed fear of becoming a housewife reveals not only her desire for independence but also the internalized conflict produced by patriarchal conditioning. Her search for identity thus exposes both the external Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 193 pressures of patriarchy and the traces of patriarchal values embedded within her own consciousness. This dynamic demonstrates how habitus reproduces patterns of thought and behavior in individuals. The protagonist’s questioning of women’s position in society and the persistence of internalized patriarchal values are also evident in the other female characters. Armağan’s mother questions her daughter’s attempts at liberation and independence, functioning as an intermediary through which these internalized values are transmitted. She repeatedly reminds her daughter that marriage and obedience are essential for social acceptance. The women surrounding the protagonist are likewise trapped within similar constraints in different ways. At the beginning of the novel, women participate in protests, yet it is the men who hold authority, and female identity remains overshadowed in the public sphere. These female portrayals situate the protagonist’s personal journey within a broader social context. The novel thus reveals that patriarchal norms shape women’s identities not only at the individual level but also across classes and generations. The transmission of values from mother to daughter, in particular, highlights how female identity evolves across generations while simultaneously exposing the enduring continuity of patriarchal norms. Intergenerational Transmission: The Experience of Womanhood In Alnında Mavi Kuşlar, the construction of female identity is shaped not only by individual experiences but also by communication across generations. The relationship between the protagonist Armağan and her mother reveals how the experience of womanhood is transmitted from one generation to the next. Armağan’s mother (whose name is not mentioned in the novel) appears as a character who has personally endured the constraints of this social order. Forced into marriage at a young age against her will, deprived of the right to education, and compelled to live a life built on sacrifice and obedience, the mother’s perception of womanhood is molded by the patriarchal family structure in which she was raised. Under the guise of giving advice, she imposes her own worldview and fears on her daughter. For her, womanhood is “the heaviest punishment of God” (Özakın, 2007). In this sense, the mother figure functions as a carrier of patriarchal values transmitted across generations. The mother’s experiences shape not only her own life but also her daughter’s understanding of femininity. Studies have shown that motherhood, throughout history, has not been merely a biological phenomenon but has functioned as a key medium for transmitting moral values, social norms, and gender roles across generations (Wiesner-Hanks, 2020). Thus, the mother is not only a passive subject in the reproduction of patriarchy but also an active cultural transmitter of it. Research indicates that women often conform to patriarchal norms to ensure their own safety and maintain social acceptance (Kandiyoti, 2013). In the novel, although the mother has experienced negative aspects of womanhood herself, she adheres strictly to these norms in an effort to protect her daughter. Her attitude serves as a form of cultural inheritance that restricts both her and her daughter. By embracing the role of a good wife and self-sacrificing mother to gain social approval, the mother embodies a form of patriarchal bargaining with society. The tense relationship between Armağan and her mother demonstrates both continuity and rupture in the intergenerational transmission of gender norms. The mother, though a victim of oppression in her own life, raises her daughter under similar constraints out of a protective instinct. Her constant advice to obey and conform transforms her own coping mechanism into an inherited strategy passed down through generations. However, when Armağan begins to question this inheritance, cracks emerge that make the transformation of female identity possible. When Armağan leaves for Istanbul, her mother gives her a kohl case—a symbolic object representing this transmission. The gift signifies a silent bond between mother and daughter and symbolizes the traditional roles ascribed to women. The mother’s silence is a reflection of her own painful experiences of womanhood, while Armağan’s acceptance of the object signifies not a rejection but a desire to transform the inherited patterns of femininity. Thus, the intergenerational transmission of womanhood in the novel is depicted as a chain that embodies not only continuity but Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 194 also the potential for change. The protagonist’s struggle for liberation gains further meaning as an attempt to transcend her mother’s silence and resignation. Individual Liberation and Identity Transformation The process of individual liberation emerges as the most prominent manifestation of women’s attempts to construct their own identities by distancing themselves from the gendered social order. In Alnında Mavi Kuşlar, this process takes shape through questioning the boundaries imposed by patriarchy and restructuring personal spheres of life. In doing so, the female protagonists create an authentic space for existence and identity beyond the roles prescribed to them. The protagonist, Armağan, begins her journey toward self-liberation by directly confronting patriarchal norms. The expectations of her traditional family—centered on obedience, marriage, and chastity—constitute the primary boundaries that define her place in society. These boundaries, as Connell’s notion of the “gender order” suggests, reflect not only patterns of individual behavior but also power relations sustained through social structures. Armağan’s dream of studying at a university in a big city is disapproved of by her father and brothers, who fear it might “bring shame upon her honor” (Özakın, 2007). Despite all obstacles, she finds a way to move to Istanbul, if not for education, then for work. This journey marks “the beginning of her liberation from provincial womanhood and timidity” (Özakın, 2007). Judith Butler’s view of gender as a performative construction is embodied in Armağan’s attitudes and behaviors after moving to Istanbul. Through her actions, she distances herself from the socially imposed role of the “compliant and selfsacrificing” woman. However, stepping beyond these expected roles also brings familial conflict, social exclusion, and economic isolation. As a result, her process of liberation becomes not merely an act of identity construction but also one that demands personal sacrifice. Armağan’s arrival in Istanbul is portrayed throughout the novel as both a symbolic and spatial turning point of emancipation. The city represents a realm of new possibilities for her. The diverse women she meets in different environments reveal to her that womanhood is not confined to a single mold. The critiques voiced by Tülay—a woman she meets at a party—against the notion of femininity shaped by external perceptions resonate with Armağan’s own experiences, forming the basis for a growing consciousness. The city’s cultural activities, intellectual circles, and expanded personal space allow her to experiment and explore, yet they also confront her with the economic and emotional vulnerabilities of being an independent woman. Armağan’s observations of urban life make her realize that the desire for freedom comes at a cost. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent that personal liberation also entails loneliness and social exclusion. Thus, the novel demonstrates that emancipation is not achieved merely by escaping the patriarchal provincial order but also by understanding and navigating the complexities of modern urban relationships. Conclusion Based on the premise that female identity is shaped not merely on an individual level but within cultural, historical, and social contexts, this study examined Aysel Özakın’s Alnında Mavi Kuşlar through the framework of feminist theory. The transformation of female identity was analyzed through the experiences, discourses, and actions of the novel’s female protagonists. The analysis reveals three main elements in the transformation of female identity. The first is the restrictive impact of patriarchal norms. While some female characters in the novel remain passive in the face of these norms, others attempt to construct their own identities by resisting them. The norms that shape the formation of gender roles determine women’s positions both in the family and in public life. Individuals who step outside the prescribed roles face social exclusion and normative constraints. The dichotomy in which domestic roles are assigned to women and public roles to men creates a mechanism of pressure on individuals while also critically exposing how such assumptions shape female identity. Dönmez Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences 6(4) (2025) 187-196 195 The second element revealed in the analysis is the effect and reproductive role of intergenerational transmission on the experience of womanhood. The findings demonstrate that the transmission of gender roles between generations has a significant influence on shaping female identity. Especially the roles transmitted through the mother are structured in accordance with social norms, limiting women’s processes of constructing their subjective identities. Throughout the novel, the internal conflicts of female characters—centered around obedience, chastity, marriage, and motherhood— are portrayed as the main axes through which the experience of womanhood is formed. The third element emerging from the analysis is the transformative power of individual liberation. The female protagonists’ individual experiences often evoke feelings of loneliness, alienation, and exclusion. Their desire to live independently, pursue education, and achieve economic autonomy brings them into direct conflict with the social norms of the order in which they live. This confrontation forces them to pay certain personal costs. Thus, the women’s process of identity construction can be understood not only as an individual experience but also as an effort to challenge and transcend the established boundaries of the patriarchal system. Through her characters, the author portrays the struggle for existence that women sustain both in their individual and social relationships. The effects of female experience extend beyond the individual, creating a space for social questioning. Through the protagonists, the novel addresses gender-based injustices, discrimination, and struggles for liberation as an interconnected whole. In conclusion, Alnında Mavi Kuşlar is a multidimensional literary work that reveals how female identity is shaped simultaneously through individual experiences and patriarchal structures. The study contributes to the examination of womanhood within the context of feminist theory, offering a critical perspective on gender and deepening the understanding of how the transformation of female identity is reflected in literature. References Bora, A. (2010). Kadınların sınıfı: Ücretli ev emeği ve kadın öznelliğinin inşası (The class of women: Paid domestic labor and the construction of female subjectivity). İletişim Yayınları. Bourdieu, P. (2015). Eril tahakküm (Masculine domination) (B. Yılmaz, Trans.). Bağlam Yayınları. Butler, J. (2007). Taklit ve “toplumsal cinsiyet”e karşı durma (Imitation and resistance to “gender”) (O. Akınhay, Trans.). 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Toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında ataerkil aile ve cinsiyet rolleri üzerine bir değerlendirme (An evaluation of patriarchal family and gender roles in the context of gender). International Social Sciences Studies Journal, 11(6), 1141–1146. Ersöz, A. G. (2015). Özel alan – kamusal alan dikotomisi: Kadınlığın “doğası” ve kamusal alandan dışlanmışlığı (Private–public dichotomy: The “nature” of womanhood and exclusion from the public sphere). Sosyoloji Araştırmaları Dergisi, 18(1), 80–102. Gürkanlı Kutlu, H. G. (2023). Alnında Mavi Kuşlar romanının kentleşme ve heterotopi kavramı üzerinden okunması (Reading the novel “Alnında Mavi Kuşlar” through the concepts of urbanization and heterotopia). Kün: Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(2), 97–111. Kandiyoti, D. (2013). Cariyeler, bacılar, yurttaşlar: Kimlikler ve toplumsal dönüşümler (Concubines, sisters, citizens: Identities and social transformations). Metis Yayınları. Karaosmanoğlu, A. (2025). Butler'ın performatif kuramı ile Althusser'in söylemsel özne kurulumu arasındaki ilişkisellik (Relationality between Butler’s performativity theory and Althusser’s discursive subject formation). Mülkiye Dergisi, 49(2), 275– 306. Kessler, S. J., & McKenna, W. (1985). Gender: An ethnomethodological approach. University of Chicago Press.