Exploring the socio-religious feminist struggle of south Asian third-world women against the labyrinthine gossamer of patriarchy in selected Bangladeshi fiction

Abstract EN

This research explores the oppression of patriarchy on women in Muslim orthodox community in the light of Feminist Theory.

The research draws on the basic assumption of feminism and shows the relationship between the religion and patriarchy.

It shows how the relationship helps in the oppression of the females in the society.

This research is qualitative in nature.

On the surface level, the novel Wild Wind seems to be the documentation of the major characters of everyday life.

However, a deeper analysis, while citing the non-western feminist critics like Margot Badran and her book Feminism in Islam and Anitta Kynsilehto and her book Islamic Feminism: Current Perspective and their position on feminism, this research asserts that the patriarchy in Muslim society is deeper than it seems.

And Taslima Nasreen’s account of her youthful life unveils the patriarchal codes and myths to subjugate the woman.

On the surface, this book reveals Taslima’s tumultuous youth in a patriarchal family and social structure.

The book seems to recount the youthful experience of a rebellious girl; her experience of adult life and the minute detailing of a family relationship.

But a deeper analysis shows not only patriarchy but also religion functions as an apparatus of repression for the women.

Hence, the present research attempts at finding how patriarchy and Muslim religion are in complicit relation; how religion and patriarchy are making each other powerful making it more difficult for the women of Islamic society.