English Abstract
This dissertation, situated within Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological framework, examines the acquisition and strategic deployment of various forms of capital—cultural, social, economic, and symbolic—by Iranian women literary translators in the post-1979 period. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of field, habitus, and capital, the study investigates how these translators navigate a field historically dominated by men, challenging entrenched power dynamics and asserting their professional identities. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including male and female translators, publishers, and academic experts, is employed. The analysis of a corpus of 27 translated literary novels, identified through these interviews, reveals the intersection of Bourdieusian capital and translation practices in the Iranian context. Despite significant challenges—such as economic constraints and censorship—Iranian women translators have strategically mobilized their habitus to enhance their visibility and influence within the field. The findings suggest that capital accumulation functions both as a mechanism of self-assertion and as a driving force, enabling women to navigate the complexities of copyright, censorship, and publication processes in pursuit of professional advancement. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the increasing presence of female translators in Iran is not merely the result of uniform opportunities but stems from strategic adaptations to the specific socio-political and cultural conditions of the field. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the sociological dimensions of literary translation in Iran, providing insights into how women challenge structural barriers within the field. It lays the groundwork for future research on the intersection of gender and literary translation and advocates for the establishment of professional organizations to standardize translation quality and protect intellectual property. The study also calls for formal recognition of translators’ contributions, thereby enhancing their visibility and influence, particularly among women, in the Iranian literary ecosystem. Additionally, it proposes the creation of specialized entities, such as editorial boards and literary critics, to ensure the quality and accessibility of translated works.
