Translation and Interpreting Research
Research Institute for Translation Studies (RITS)

Cultural (Re)Negotiation: Women Representation in the Persian Dubbing of The Boys

Document Type : Translation Studies

Authors

Armin Norouzi 1
Arman Noroozi 1
Behnam Rezvani Sichani 2

1 MA Student in Translation Studies, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/tir.2026.95850.1084
Abstract
The portrayal of women in audiovisual translation (AVT) is a sensitive and significant area of study, as it can reveal how cultural values are reinforced or challenged through the dubbing process. This study analyzes the Persian-dubbed version of the first and second seasons of The Boys, focusing on the treatment, abuse, and peripheral roles assigned to its female characters. Employing a qualitative, socio-constructivist approach (Creswell, 2009; Yin, 2003), the analysis examines the manipulations made to gendered representations within the dubbed dialogues. The findings indicate that the dubbing introduces changes that reinforce the obedience of women and undercut their acts of resistance against patriarchal structures, while softening or altering references to women’s experiences of abuse. These findings offer critical insights into how gender representations are culturally negotiated in AVT. The study ultimately contributes to broader discussions on the intersection of translation, culture, and gender, highlighting how dubbing can serve as a site for ideological mediation.

Keywords

Audiovisual translation
Persian dubbing
women's representation
gender representation
ideological shifts
Translation and Interpreting Research
Volume 3, Issue 10
Spring 2026
Pages 31-42

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