Representation of Gender Ideology in the Stylistic, Linguistic, and Rhetorical Layers of a Selection of Local Folk Tales

Isfahani and Bakhtiari folktales, as part of Iran’s literary and cultural heritage, contain complex semantic and stylistic layers, one of the most significant of which is the representation of gender ideology. In these narratives, the roles and positions of women and men are shaped within the framework of cultural and social norms, reflecting the gender expectations of society. Women are often represented through symbolic dualities such as “good/bad woman” or “beautiful/oppressed woman,” dualities that reinforce social values and rules related to gendered behavior, morality, and responsibilities. In contrast, men typically appear as heroes, saviors, or agents of narrative progression, embodying positions of power and social responsibility. From a stylistic and structural perspective, this ideology is reflected in layers such as characterization, plot, lexical choice, sentence structure, sequencing of events, and atmosphere. Figurative and metaphorical descriptions of women, emphasis on their beauty, purity, or vulnerability, and the highlighting of masculine actions function as tools for transmitting and internalizing gender norms. In this study, Isfahani and Bakhtiari folktales were selected as representatives of two distinct cultural contexts to enable a comparative analysis of gender roles and actions. Adopting a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, and combining theories of representation, narrative semiotics, and critical discourse analysis, the study conducts a multilayered examination of the structure and style of these folktales. The analysis demonstrates that folktales not only possess aesthetic value but also provide a platform for the reproduction and critique of power structures and gender ideologies in Iran’s local culture and literature.