IDENTITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF YOUNG PEOPLE

IN JOURNALISTIC AND LITERARY WORKS OF MARIJA JURIĆ ZAGORKA

DOWNLOAD DOI: 10.62897/COS2025.3-1.86

Beatriz Brkić*
*Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer
University of Osijek
beatrizbrkic5@gmail.com

Abstract: As the main topic of PhD research is focused on identity types in early literary works of first Croatian female journalist and writer Marija Jurić Zagorka, relation to conference topic Quality of Life for young people in the first part is based on Zagorka’s comments in the article of Women’s Journal regarding the choice of profession and its challenges, which is one of the main determinants of identity of young people. In the second part, Zagorka’s views about gender norms and equality in Croatian society in the 20th century are presented, which are compared to contemporary Croatian autobiographical literature. The third part is based on Zagorka’s depiction of narcissistic personality disorder in her literary work, which resonates with the findings of modern psychology and is related to the mental health of young people. The main point of the paper is to emphasize the similarities of issues of young people in Croatia during Zagorka’s time and the modern age. Young people in Croatia still have to endure immense pressure when it comes to areas of life considered crucial for quality of life – career, mental health, and socializing in a system that functions on the terms of performative gender norms. Thus, the challenges faced by young people today are remarkably similar to those encountered by the youth of the 1930s, as described by Zagorka in her journalistic writings and novels.

 

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