Beyond the Feminine Stereotypes: Tracing Societal Class Barriers in Jojo Moyes' Me Before You

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2026

Abstract

This paper examines the complex nuances of feminist narratives and their diverse interpretations through an in-depth analysis of Jojo Moyes' novel Me Before You (2012). Within the framework of feminism, the paper questions normative gender ideals through the lens of the interconnectedness of class, culture, and identity. Even in the context of a familiar setting of Louisa Clark, the protagonist, sociocultural forces dictate class, gender, and caregiving expectations. Using a critical lens and sociocultural analysis, the article illustrates how family traditions and social practices strongly mediate Louisa's decisions, needs, and self-worth, providing a less radical tone but more pragmatic and inclusive feminism compared to much feminist rhetoric. Overall, the article advocates that more studies on feminist literature, gender stereotypes, and identity formation among cultures across the world, with a focus on intersections of gender, power, and social class, are needed, offering researchers of literary criticism, feminist theory, and identity development with critical new knowledge.

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