Consciousness Raising in the New Woman of Shobhaa De’s novels Starry Nights & Socialite Evenings

  • Dr. Aasia Nusrat Assistant Professor, COMSATS University, Lahore
  • Yusra Ashraf MS Scholar, COMSATS University, Lahore
  • Rabia Wasif Assistant Professor, FC College, Lahore
Keywords: New Woman, Consciousness Raising, Sexuality, Male Hegemony

Abstract

Women have been the “Second Sex” for far too long and there are parts of the world where the patriarchy still has the noose of suppression hanging around women’s necks. In India, women are treated like goddesses as long as they don’t turn their backs on the ideals of Sita and Savitri; the epitome of self-sacrifice, tolerance, endurance, and blind loyalty towards the men in their life. The New Woman in Shobhaa De’s novels is conscious and well aware of what’s been done to her and is concerned with her personal growth. The research further forays into the comprehension of the insights the New Woman has and how she turns her life around for her betterment through the power of ‘Consciousness Raising’. Catherine McKinnon’s piece on ‘Consciousness Raising’ talks about the radicalization, internalization, and oppression of the women. In the paper, De’s novels Starry Nights and Socialite Evenings would be analyzed through the lens of McKinnon’s views.

Published
2020-07-30
How to Cite
Dr. Aasia Nusrat, Yusra Ashraf, & Rabia Wasif. (2020). Consciousness Raising in the New Woman of Shobhaa De’s novels Starry Nights & Socialite Evenings. Research Journal of Social Sciences and Economics Review, 1(2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.36902/rjsser-vol1-iss2-2020(70-78)