Cultural Integration and Gender Issues in Diaspora Fiction: The Transnational Albanian View

Abstract

This article examines how the experience of migration cultivates a redefined perception of the “self” and the nation as a whole. It explores the construction of gender identity through the works of Elvira Dones, focusing on the novels “Stars Don't Dress Up Like That” and “Sworn Virgin”. Through a critical analysis of characters and situations that present the challenges of cultural integration and gender issues, the study reveals how Dones addresses the experiences of Albanian emigrants and highlights the complex relationships between traditional identities and those formed in the context of migration. The central argument posits that Dones' literature not only reflects but actively critiques and reshapes notions of gender and national identity. Using an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates hybridity theory, diaspora paradigms, and close textual analysis, the article aims to contribute to the dialogue on the role of literature in addressing gender identity and human rights issues in the 21st century.