The City and Gender Expression in Nik Nicholson’s Descendants of Hagar and Leona Beasley’s Something Better than Home

Abstract

The city has become a hub of economic, social, and cultural exchange. Therefore, it appears to be the ideal place for shaping new normativities relating to gender and sexuality. However, we discover in Descendants of Hagar and Something Better than Home that it is more complex to live in the American South due to conservatism and underdevelopment. That is why the main protagonists seek migration to northern cities, perceived as more developed, promoting gender equality, inclusivity and offering opportunities for freedom and self-expression. Through the theoretical framework of gender studies, we argue that developed cities create institutions and safe spaces that support the inclusion and security of marginalized individuals.

Keywords

• the city
• gender expression
• inclusion
• gender studies