Role Dedifferentiation in the Book of Ruth

Abstract

Recent studies of Ruth have rightly emphasized the narrative nature of this short story, but sociological analysis also offers helpful tools for the interpretation of Ruth. The concept of role provides a locus of possible integration. Since the book of Ruth is literature, the figures within this book's story undergo characterization, depicting and developing their roles within the story. Within this narrative world, the characters appear as social actors and their behavior conforms to recognizable social processes within definable social roles. Thus, the gender roles of the characters exhibit a social function of dedifferentiation, as role segments typically considered male or female are interchanged.