Exploring the Zenana: Ismat Chughtai and the Vision of Feminist Utopia

Authors

  • Alexandar Rufhi Department of Sociology, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
  • Gomidhy Saroph Department of Sociology, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia

Keywords:

Feminist Utopia, Sex, Chughtai, Zenana, Philosophy, Realism

Abstract

The conventional interpretation of a zenana often symbolizes male dominance over women. However, Ismat Chughtai's work, particularly her story "Lihaaf," challenges this prevailing notion and offers a different perspective. Chughtai seeks to disrupt the association of a zenana with male control and aims to provide it with a transformed meaning. While conventional views perceive a zenana as a space designed to isolate women from the outside world, Chughtai, in "Lihaaf," employs it as a microcosm that represents her own reality. This paper aims to demonstrate how Chughtai subverts the gendered nature of this space and establishes a feminist utopia within it. It explores the notion that patriarchy's inherent disparities unintentionally create opportunities for agency and generate spaces for a feminist utopia to emerge.

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Published

15-06-2023

How to Cite

Rufhi, A., & Saroph, G. (2023). Exploring the Zenana: Ismat Chughtai and the Vision of Feminist Utopia. International Journal of Innovative Scientific Research, 1(1), 1–4. Retrieved from https://journals.worldbiologica.com/ijisr/article/view/42

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Articles