Female Psychology and Gender analysis in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye

Abstract

Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye examines how cultural norms and internalized racism affect young Black girls' identities, self-worth, and psychological development. Morrison's story shows how gender and ethnicity affect these individuals in a white culture. The heroine, Pecola Breedlove, represents the negative repercussions of beauty and feminine standards, notably blue eyes and pale complexion. Morrison shows how societal influences shape Pecola's self-image, causing self-loathing and psychiatric disintegration. This desire follows the theme of marginalized people internalizing society's discriminating norms, resulting in identity fractures and a pervasive sense of unworthiness. The novel investigates how gender norms and expectations affect Black women, who face social and communal discrimination. Pecola's mother, Pauline Breedlove, shows how internalized racism and restricted agency perpetuate violence and neglect against other women and their children. Morrison shows how patriarchy and racial inequality hinder Black women's liberation through Pauline. The Bluest Eye criticizes a culture that hurts and confines Black womanhood. Morrison's psychological and gender-focused viewpoint shows how these challenges affect the characters' self-image, mental health, and resilience, addressing fundamental concerns about identity, attractiveness, and social expectations that still resonate today.