Literary Narratives in Social Empowerment of Women

The changing position and status of women today are rooted in the powerful narratives of the literary movements of early to mid-20th century Europe and America. American feminist writers, poets and playwrights from the North and South, such as Susanne Glaspell, Margaret Deland, Sylvia Plath, Audre Lorde, and Tennessee Williams have been chosen for analyses of women's narratives and their political underpinnings. They provide an interesting comparison to the changing legal, economic and social systems - a crucial period for the first-wave and second-wave feminist movements. From the Middle East & South Asia, literary works of the sociologist Fatima Mernissi, and writers Bapsi Sidhwa, Ismat Chughtai, Abida Sultaan, Farida Shaheed and Qurratulain Haider have been examined to understand feminist implications for political empowerment of women. Upon comparison it is learnt that 20th century European & American literary movements run parallel to the narratives in the early 19th and 20th century Middle East and South Asian literature and diaspora, and offer a better understanding of intersectionality, centered on gender, sexuality, class, race and nationalism.