Shades of South Asian Women in Rasheed Jahan’s Writings: Navigating Patriarchies, Spaces, Regime Control, and Colonialism
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Date
2022-12
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University of North Bengal
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64Authors
Chakraborty, Anup Shekhar
Biswas, Praggnaparamita
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Abstract
Women in South Asia had a different colonial experience compared to that of
men. Colonialism liberated indigenous women from traditionally restrictive
practices, expanding their mobility opportunities. It also introduced indigenous
women to newer forms of colonial patriarchy and sometimes resurrected older
forms of masculine privilege. Women attempted to overcome obstacles to
education and healthcare, forced marriages, and restrictions on their freedom of
movement. A group of women actively participated in the nationalist movement
and advocated for women’s rights. Writing allowed colonised women in South
Asia to convey their thoughts and experiences and to challenge the oppressive
structures that confined them, ultimately leading to women’s liberation. By
drawing attention to the intersectionality of gender, religion, and culture, women
writers in South Asia, particularly the Islamic women writers have contributed
significantly to the feminist movement. These writings have given Muslim
women in the region a voice and have challenged patriarchal norms and
stereotypes. The writings of Rasheed Jahan, Ismat Chughtai, and Qurratulain
Hyder continue to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for future
generations of women.
The present study delves into the literary works of Rasheed Jahan, with a focus
on the portrayal of South Asian women and their experiences in overcoming
various forms of patriarchal oppression, their navigation through regimes and
their mechanisms of control, their struggle for establishment of identities in
diverse social settings, resisting authoritarian regimes, and recovering from the
aftermath of colonialism while carving out spaces for their survival.
Description
Journal of Women's Studies (A Peer Reviewed Journal), Vol. Xl, December 2022, p 92-113
Keywords
Rasheed Jahan, South Asia, Women, Muslim, Spaces, Writing, Voice, Colonialism
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2320-3625