Reproducing the Notion of Respectable Femininity in the Identity Work of Professional Women: A Case of Postcolonial Academics in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Women are supposed to portray their identity in line with traditional expectations of Victorian Women the Perfect Lady in Sri Lanka, postcolonial, patriarchal context. This study examines how postcolonial female academics (re)produce the boundary of the notion of respectable femininity in constructing the identity in Sri Lankan Context. Drawing on postcolonial theories, the study employs a qualitative approach. To accomplish the purpose of the study data was generated through the eight semi structured interviews from both male and female academics. Generated data were analyzed using the t000hematic analysis. Findings reveal that postcolonial female academics construct their identity aligned with the boundary of respectable femininity. However, they are not passive victims of producing the Victorian values of the perfect lady in constructing their identity. They are redefining and stretching the boundaries of so called respectable femininity practice reflecting dynamic shifts in gendered identities. This study contributes to organizational identity literature and postcolonial feminist scholarship providing insight into how global feminist discourses intersect with local gender norms, underlining how Sri Lankan postcolonial female academics balance cultural expectations and careers in academia.