Manifestations of Gender-Based Oppression in Bonnie Garmus’ Novel Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted oppression experienced by women in public spheres, particularly in education and the workplace, as depicted in Bonnie Garmus’s novel Lessons in Chemistry. Utilizing Iris Marion Young’s “Five Faces of Oppression” framework-exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence-the research conducts a qualitative analysis of the protagonist Elizabeth Zott’s experiences. The findings reveal that women’s oppression is deeply embedded in patriarchal social structures and perpetuated through institutional practices, gender stereotypes, and cultural norms. The novel illustrates how women are systematically undervalued, excluded from positions of authority, denied agency, pressured to conform to restrictive standards, and subjected to both overt and covert violence. By examining these dynamics through feminist theory, the study highlights the ongoing relevance of literature in critiquing and challenging gender-based oppression, and calls for continued awareness and resistance against such systemic injustices