27.6.2024: New Research Unveils Trauma Transformation through the Feminine in Little Red Riding Hood Stories (Wide)
In light of the ongoing discussion around rape in the classic tale of “Little Red Riding Hood,” MA Carola Maria Wide studies how rape trauma, as depicted in culture, can be transformed through the perspective of the feminine, meaning feminine psychosexuality, in contemporary adaptations of the tale by female storytellers. For example, Kiki Smith’s visual essay “Bedlam” (2001) adds a visual component to the discussion of trauma and transformation in Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaids Tale (1986) and Angela Carter’s short story “The Company of Wolves” (1979), highlighting the importance of artistic representation in exploring complex themes related to feminine psychosexuality.
“I aim to redefine how rape trauma is portrayed in new adaptations of ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ offering a transformative perspective that empowers victims rather than victimizing them”, Carola Wide from Ģֱ states.
Narration, Initiation, and Intergeneration
Wide discovers a new trend in women’s “Little Red Riding Hood” stories that transforms the heroine’s rape trauma through the perspective of the feminine in three central ways: Trauma narration, female initiation, and female intergenerational relationships reveal the red-hooded heroine’s working through trauma and reaching feminine psychosexual maturity, enabling transformation, healing, forgiveness, and freedom from trauma victimhood.
This groundbreaking approach opens new avenues in the literary and scientific sectors, providing girls with role models for transforming trauma and promoting feminine psychosexual maturity.
MA Carola Maria Wide defends her dissertation “Oh, how frightened I was”: The Kristevan Feminine, Narration, Initiation, and Intergeneration in Contemporary, Red-hooded Heroines’ Transformation of Fear-provoking Cultural Rape Trauma on Thursday, June 27, at noon in Agora Auditorium 3. The opponent is Carol Mastrangelo Bové (University of Pittsburgh), and the custos is Helen Mäntymäki (Ģֱ). The event is held in English.
The dissertation defense can also be followed online:
The dissertation has been funded by the South Ostrobothnia Cultural Fund, the Finnish Concordia Fund, Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet r.f., and the Department of Language and Communication Studies, Ģֱ. Wide works today as a University Teacher in English at the Hanken School of Economics.
The dissertation is available in the JYX Digital Repository:
For more information: Carola Wide, carolamariawide@gmail.com
