FORTHEM Journal

Awakening to Open a Pandora’s Box: Individuality and Feminist Transition in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening

2025-08-08T20:08:52+00:00

This paper explores the psychological development of the protagonist in Kate Chopin’s (1850 – 1904) novella, The Awakening (1899), examining how her awakenings are influenced by societal ideology, individuality, geography, and music. Set on Grand Isle, a symbolic and physical space of temporary freedom, Edna Pontellier’s experiences challenge the traditional gender ideology of the late 19th century. Through close textual analysis, this study scrutinizes how the environment of the resort, artistic and interpersonal influences (including the sea, music, and interactions with other characters) catalyze her escalating awareness of the disparity between societal norms and individuality. Her awakenings not only mark a transformation from conformity to self-expression but also intensify her isolation, leading to her tragic end. Published at the turn of the century, The Awakening reflects tensions of the nineteenth-century feminist ideology, which advocated women’s participation in public and political life while still negotiating conventional domestic ideals. Through Edna’s pursuit of individuality beyond her roles as wife and mother, Chopin engages with nineteenth-century feminist debates while exposing the psychological costs of a social norm that leaves little to no room for female individuality. By foreshadowing the feminist transformations at the turn of the century and revealing the arduous process of challenging entrenched gender norms. Chopin is perceived as a forerunner of later feminist thought.

Femintegra – Labor Trajectories and Occupational Segmentation among Romanian Women in Spain: An Intersectional Analysis

2026-03-11T09:36:11+00:00

This article examines the labor market integration of Romanian women in Spain through an analysis of their labor trajectories in four provinces with distinct economic and migratory contexts: Barcelona, Lleida, Valencia, and Castellón. Adopting an intersectional and gender-sensitive perspective, the study explores how structural labor market conditions, institutional frameworks, and individual strategies interact over time to shape employment opportunities, stability, and mobility.

The research follows a mixed-methods design combining quantitative data from the Spanish Social Security system and the National Statistics Institute with qualitative material drawn from 29 in-depth interviews, life stories, participant observation, and elements of digital ethnography. Qualitative data were analyzed through an interpretive thematic approach that reconstructs labor trajectories as temporally structured processes shaped by migration timing, family responsibilities, and regional labor demand.

The findings reveal persistent occupational segmentation and deskilling, with Romanian women strongly concentrated in domestic work, care services, hospitality, and seasonal agriculture—sectors characterized by low wages and limited opportunities for upward mobility. At the same time, trajectories vary significantly according to educational capital, migration cohort, and family obligations. The analysis identifies a typology of migratory projects that illustrates the heterogeneity of women’s strategies, ranging from survival-oriented trajectories to entrepreneurial and professional reorientation pathways. Despite structural constraints, Romanian women display significant agency through the mobilization of community networks, digital platforms, and self-employment initiatives.

By integrating administrative labor data with qualitative trajectory analysis, the article contributes to research on gendered labor migration in Southern Europe and highlights the paradox between formal European mobility rights and persistent labor market marginalization. The findings offer insights for policy debates on qualification recognition, labor rights enforcement, and inclusive labor market integration for EU migrant workers.

The Metamorphosis of AI: How Has It Reshaped ELT?

2026-04-02T05:59:45+00:00

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed multiple sectors of society, including education, where it offers innovative tools to enhance teaching and learning processes. In the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), AI technologies, particularly Generative AI (GenAI) and AI-driven chatbot, provide new opportunities for personalized learning, interactive practice, and increased learner autonomy. This paper presents a systematic review of the evolution of AI over the past decade, from its early foundations in machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing to the emergence of advanced generative models exploring how has it impacted English Learning Teaching (ELT). The study explores how these technologies are being integrated into language education and examines their potential to support the development of key language skills, with particular attention to oral communication, often considered one of the most challenging competencies for language learners. Findings suggest that while AI has great potential and can significantly enhance language learning experiences, its integration must be carefully managed through the development of AI literacy and from an ethical perspective as it cannot fully replace classroom interaction.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Contested Borders and Fragmented Sovereignty in Kurdish Political Mobilization

2025-06-25T08:11:20+00:00

Kurds, who stand at the center of political, military, and social tensions between Türkiye and Syria, play a decisive role in the fate of both countries not only because of their ethnic identity but also due to their geographical concentration along critical borderlands and their evolving political agency. This study analyzes the intersectional role of the Kurds in the crisis management processes of both countries in light of the regional dynamics that have changed with the regime change in Syria and the withdrawal of US military support. The new political balances and autonomous structures in Syria, forcing a strategic defense reflex, have simultaneously found repercussions in Turkish domestic politics. The symbolic contacts initiated by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, Abdullah Öcalan's call for disarmament, and the subsequent declaration of the PKK's dissolution, have shifted the issue from a security-focused crisis to a structural political initiative.

Hungary's current policy towards the European Union

2025-06-29T19:32:11+00:00

This article examines the inconsistency in Hungary's foreign policy regarding its EU membership. While benefiting from EU opportunities, the Hungarian government counter new policies like the EU Migration Pact. It analyzes Hungary's historical background, focusing on Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party, and explores themes of national identity and Hungarian conviction of greatness despite its size. The article also looks at Hungary's political isolation from the West, its support for illiberal democracy, and the status of Hungarian minorities abroad. Additionally, it discusses Hungary's support for EU expansion to the Western Balkans and the strategic motivations for this attitude. Ultimately, it illustrates Hungary's shift from a model EU candidate to a nation with growing inaccuracies towards the Union's core values, highlighting internal EU conflicts.

Devolution and Post-Brexit Governance: Institutional Constraints on Policy Coordination in the United Kingdom

2026-04-01T11:06:40+00:00

This paper examines the post-Brexit evolution of UK devolution, focusing on the United Kingdom Internal Market Act (UKIMA) and its impact on devolved governance and policy coordination. It argues that the interaction between asymmetrical devolution, centralising fiscal mechanisms, and the adaptation of EU internal market principles has reshaped the balance of authority within the UK, strengthening central control while constraining devolved autonomy.

Although Common Frameworks were intended to manage policy divergence through cooperation, their non-statutory nature and uneven implementation have limited their effectiveness. Consequently, intergovernmental relations remain dependent on informal mechanisms, leaving coordination vulnerable to political disagreement.

The paper contends that UKIMA has entrenched constitutional asymmetries by prioritising market integration and enabling Westminster to exercise significant authority within devolved domains. It concludes that post-Brexit reforms have weakened multi-level governance in the UK, highlighting the need for both institutional reform and a shift towards more structured and durable forms of intergovernmental cooperation.