Hypatia and Zenith: Challenging the Power Dynamics of Gendered Roles

Abstract

To examine how individuals resist the gendered power play and inequality by doing against the prescribed roles, this study compares two real-life characters a) Hypatia and b) Zenith Irfan presented in their biopics: Agora (Spanish-English) and Motorcycle Girl (Pakistani/Urdu) respectively. For analyzing the characters, I use a post-structuralist feminist theory of power. The paper concludes that the everyday resistance of these two characters, one Hypatia living in 4th-5th century Alexandria and the other Zenith Irfan, living in Pakistan in the present day challenge the o the power dynamics of gendered roles make them agents for change in their societies. Hypatia urged women to start studying sciences, while Zenith inspired many women to ride on a motorbike to enjoy the freedom of traveling and break the stereotypes and taboos associated with women’s mobility on roads as drivers and motor bikers from which Pakistani women suffer.