Gender Studies

The Defiant Faces: Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy’s Resistance Narratives

Gender Studies/V16N42024

89 views

Khum Prasad Sharma
Lecturer in English, Padmakanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.14}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

This study examines the multilayered concept of resistance in Arundhati Roy’s novels The God of Small Things (1997) and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017). By foregrounding the voices of marginalized individuals, Roy critically examines systemic inequalities, caste discrimination, and state violence. While existing literary scholarship acknowledges the victimization and marginalization of subaltern women under traditional gender roles, caste systems, politics, and religion, this research highlights how these women actively resist such injustices. Utilizing theoretical frameworks from Guha, Spivak, Gramsci, and Crenshaw, the paper explores the intersectionality of personal and political resistance. It discusses Roy’s critique of power structures and her advocacy for justice and human dignity. Thus, the study unveils the layers of defiance in Roy’s unique portrayal of varied resistance strategies in her narratives.

Keywords: Resistance, violence, injustices, subaltern consciousness, political resistance, gender and identity.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 20 October 2024. Revised: 25 December 2024. Accepted: 28 December 2024. First published: 31 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Sharma, K. P. (2024). The Defiant Faces: Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy’s Resistance Narratives. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.14

Exploring the Intersectionality of Cisgender Queer Women in Non-WEIRD Contexts

Gender Studies/V16N42024

101 views

Aditi Chawla^1* & Grace Maria Jochan²
^1,2 Research Department of Counselling and Psychology, St. Joseph’s University (Bangalore), India. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.13}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The specific challenges faced by cisgender queer women navigating discrimination and marginalization, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts, are rarely addressed in academic literature. This study aims to understand the nuanced experiences of cisgender queer women residing in non-WEIRD contexts, with a particular focus on the intersections of identity, cultural influences, self-acceptance, prejudice, and social location. Drawing on theories like intersectionality, the research highlights the complex interplay between various dimensions of identity and how they shape lived realities. Using a sample of young adults aged 18 to 29 who identify as cisgender queer women, it thematically explores the influence of social and cultural backgrounds on participants’ experiences of sexuality. The findings shed light on the persistent prejudice and stereotyping these women face, rooted in both their sexual orientation and cultural context. By centering these intersections, the research emphasizes the importance of multidimensional approaches in social inquiry and advocacy, fostering greater inclusivity and support for cisgender queer women in non-WEIRD contexts.

Keywords: Intersectionality, cisgender queer women, non-WEIRD contexts, cultural identity, self acceptance, prejudice, stereotyping, thematic analysis.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History:Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 20 December 2024. Accepted: 25 December 2024. First published: 29 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Chawla, A. & Jochan, G. M. (2024). Exploring the Intersectionality of Cisgender Queer Women in Non-WEIRD Contexts. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.13

Unveiling Transgender Narratives: A Critical Analysis of Their Representation in Malayalam Cinema

Gender Studies/V16N42024

138 views

Mohamed Rashid VP¹ & Sourav V² & Bangalore Morarji²
¹PhD Scholar, CSSEIP, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad.
²PhD scholar in History, Department of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology
³Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.07}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

For over a century, cinema has been an influential medium through which stories are told, and culture is expressed. Stories come to life through filmmaking and exploring various themes, experiences and perspectives. Film’s visual and narrative elements can shape public opinion, subvert social conventions, provoke thinking and significantly impact the culture and social discourse. This study examines the representation of transgender individuals in Malayalam cinema, analysing the evolving narrative landscape and its societal impact. Regardless of a rich cinematic history dating back to the 1930s, Malayalam films have only recently begun to include transgender themes with depth and sensitivity. The study scrutinises early depictions that often resorted to stereotypes and comedic mockery, contrasting them with contemporary portrayals that uphold understanding and acceptance. By dissecting specific films, this work reveals the changing tides in cultural perception and points out the importance of responsible storytelling in media. This study calls for a continued push towards authentic and respectful representation, emphasising the transformative potential of cinema in shaping public attitudes towards the transgender community. This study used historical, content, and discourse analysis as methodology and representation theory as the theoretical framework to examine the portrayal of transgender in Malayalam cinema.

Keywords: Film Making, Malayalam Cinema, Social Impact, Stereotypes, Transgender Representation.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 19 December 2024. Accepted: 18 December 2024. First published: 23 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: VP, M. R. & V, S. & Morarji, B. (2024). Unveiling Transgender Narratives: A Critical Analysis of Their Representation in Malayalam Cinema. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.07

Exploring Helplessness and Stress Coping Strategies Among Sexual Minority: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gender Studies/V16N42024

111 views

Priyambada K. Verma^1* & Yogesh Deshpande²
¹PhD Research Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, VNIT, Nagpur, India. *Corresponding author
²Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, VNIT, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.04}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

The study was conducted on transgender and gay individuals to explore whether the two groups differ on Stress Coping Strategies and Helplessness. The study also assessed the correlation between their Stress Coping Strategies and Helplessness. The study was conducted on 159 participants, 72 gay, and 87 transgender individuals. The data was subjected to correlation and t-test, assuming unequal variance. The correlational analysis revealed that ‘outer wall strategy’ had a negative correlation with ‘inadequacy’ (-0.41), ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.39), and ‘failure to invariants and negative events’ (-0.26) and a positive correlation with ‘problem avoidance and low cognition’ (0.24); ‘diet control’ had a negative correlation with ‘inadequacy’ (-0.29), ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.24) and ‘failure to invariants and negative events’ (-0.23) and ‘avoidance’ had positive correlation with ‘syndrome of cognitive motivational disturbances’ (0.28) and negative correlation with ‘coping difficulties’ (-0.27) and ‘anxious over concern and fruitless tendency to worry’ (-0.20). Further, the findings revealed that transgender individuals (112.85) scored significantly higher on Stress Coping Strategies as compared to gay individuals (101.30). However, there was no significant difference between gay (65.54) and transgender (64.93) with respect to helplessness.

Keywords: Transgender, Gay, Sexual minorities, Correlation, Helplessness, Stress coping strategies.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 18 October 2024. Revised: 19 December 2024. Accepted: 20 December 2024. First published: 25 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Verma, P. K. & Deshpande, Y. (2024). Exploring Helplessness and Stress Coping Strategies Among Sexual Minority: A Cross-Sectional Study. Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.04

Unveiling the ‘Mask of Motherhood’: Daughter Decodes Mother’s Postpartum Struggle in Maya Shanbhag Lang’s Memoir What We Carry (2020)

Gender Studies/V16N42024/Women's Issues

151 views

Sumana Mukherjee^1* & Amrita Satapathy²
^1,2 School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 4, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.03}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}
Abstract

Mother and motherhood have always been associated with an unachievable archetype- strong, competent, effortless, untroubled, and invincible. Transmitted from mothers to daughters, this image has symbolized the trope of the ideal mother and motherhood for ages. The incessant expectations from Indian mothers as idols of altruïsm and boundless affection have generated a fabricated idea of motherhood. This situation often places new mothers in a bind, the starting point of which begins with not recognizing their postpartum struggle. Further, it imposes a burden on such mothers by thrusting them into a state of mental anxiety and depression. Maya Shanbhag Lang’s (2020) memoir What We Carry deals with the unvoiced and yet crucial topic of postpartum depression. While battling her postpartum depression, Maya seeks her ‘perfect’ mother’s (a renowned psychiatrist) help and support to overcome her post-natal struggles. Unwittingly she realizes that her mother is fighting old age and dementia. By using the theories of Susan Maushart’s ‘mask of motherhood’ and Andrea O’ Reilley’s ‘empowered mothering’ this paper seeks to find out how Maya’s postpartum depression and her mother’s dementia brings out the inherent ‘maternal guilt’ and the faltering corporeality of motherhood and gives an empowered definition of mothering.

Keywords: Mask of motherhood, Postpartum struggle, Maternal guilt, Empowered mothering, Depression, Dementia.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 19 October 2024. Revised: 14 December 2024. Accepted: 18 December 2024. First published: 22 December 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Mukherjee, S. & Satapathy, A. (2024). Unveiling the ‘Mask of Motherhood’: Daughter Decodes Mother’s Postpartum Struggle in Maya Shanbhag Lang’s Memoir What We Carry (2020). Rupkatha Journal 16:4. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n4.03

The Afterlife of a ‘Sexual Revolution’: Revisiting Responses to Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996)

Gender Studies/Vol16N32024

115 views

Ashmita Biswas
Research Scholar, Department of English, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.12g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

Even after so many years, Deepa Mehta’s Indo-Canadian directorial Fire (1996) keeps resurfacing in literary circles with its multifaceted and inexhaustive appeal. The movie, centring around the same-sex desire between two women, Radha and Sita, was at the peak of its controversy during its release in India in 1998, and since then, the reactionary hate of the masses has come to embody the country’s intolerant stance towards homosexuality. Over the years, the public furore against the screening of Fire and criticism of the film’s content as anti-national and that it is a desecration of the very notion of the ‘Indian woman’ has drawn critics, again and again, to comment on the ways in which the film brought about a sexual revolution. Treating the litany of critical commentary on the film as afterlives of a ‘sexual revolution’, the paper will attempt to map some of the central issues addressed by critics over the years so as to re-situate Fire within the evolving discourses on gender, sexuality, and culture in the country. In doing so, the paper will underscore the importance of the role that 20th-century Indian cinema had to play in launching a conversation that sustains itself well into succeeding generations.

Keywords:Deepa Mehta, Fire, gender, sexuality, sexual revolution.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 11 August 2024. Revised: 28 November 2024. Accepted: 29 November 2024. First published: 30 November 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Biswas, A. (2024). The Afterlife of a ‘Sexual Revolution’: Revisiting Responses to Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996). Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.12g

Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds

Film & Media Studies/Gender Studies/V16N32024

195 views

Mao Wenyu¹ & Roslina Ismail^2*
¹ Ph.D. Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Associate Prof, Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. *Corresponding author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This paper analyzes Chinese female director Teng Congcong’s film Send Me to the Clouds to reveal the relationship between female consciousness and ideologies of power in the context of the current Chinese era. We examine the narrative strategies, imagery symbols and power ideologies in the film through Foucault’s body theory and feminist film theory. Send Me to the Clouds takes the redemption of life as its narrative strategy and incorporates elements of humor and absurdity. The film changes the initiator of sexual pleasure to the female protagonist, and the male becomes a passive character who is a cheater, a coward which is an attempt to break the “stereotype” of female passivity in the traditional Chinese cultural settings, to create an important role for female consciousness and ideology of power in this life-saving film. However, it is important to critically examine the limitations and subjectivity of the film, especially whether it subverts the traditional mainstream ideology in its artistic expression of “female consciousness”. This study provides insights into Chinese feminist film narratives and further discusses the significance and role of Chinese female consciousness in the global feminist film discourse.

Keywords: Female Directors, Stereotypes, Female consciousness, Feminism.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 26 August 2024. Revised: 25 October 2024. Accepted: 27 October 2024. First published: 29 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Wenyu, M. & Ismail, R. (2024). Female Consciousness and Stereotypes in Chinese Female-Directed Cinema: Insights from the film Send Me to the Clouds. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.07g

“I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars

Gender Studies

241 views

Beauty Das
^{Research Scholar, Department of English, Banaras Hindu University.}

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article intends to explore the convergence of feminism and mythology within Indian culture, with a particular emphasis on Usha Kishore’s poetry collection, Night Sky Between the Stars (2015). Employing a feminist literary lens, the paper examines Kishore’s engagement with significant mythological figures—goddesses such as Durga and Kali, alongside mortal women like Sita and Draupadi—to challenge patriarchal conventions. These characters represent various dimensions of womanhood, including strength and resilience, frequently contesting established gender roles. Through her reinterpretation of these myths, Kishore transforms feminist discourse and creates a new identity that elevates the voices of female mythological figures. This analysis highlights how her work contributes to an alternative narrative of Indian womanhood, promoting female agency and redefining the cultural portrayals of women in mythology.

Keywords: Feminism, Patriarchy, Mythology, Gendered Identity, Resistance, Resurrection.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Ethical Consideration: Informed consent was obtained from all the participants of the study.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 24 August 2024. Revised: 24 October 2024. Accepted: 25 October 2024. First published: 26 October 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Das, B. (2024). “I am that woman Gayatri-Lover of Brahma”: Resistance and Resurrection of the Mythical Divine Feminine in Usha Kishore’s Night Sky Between the Stars. Rupkatha Journal 16:3. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n3.03g

“The Humble Mahar Women Fall at Your Feet, Master.” Portrayal of the Psyche and Suffering of Mahar Women in Baby Kamble’s The Prisons We Broke

Dalit Studies/Gender Studies/V16N22024

861 views

Priya Verma^1* , Surbhi Saraswat² & Antara Datta³
^1,2Amity Institute of English Studies and Research, Amity University, Noida.
³Janki Devi Memorial College, Delhi University, Delhi.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.27g}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Abstract

This article delves into the nature of suffering as experienced by Mahar women struggling with the implemented difficulties by the prevailing patriarchal ideology rooted in Brahminism. Baby Kamble dislikes the humanitarian aversion to agony and disparity. She is sensitive to the predicament of Dalit women and conscious of their sufferings. She has managed to dredge into the psyche of Mahar women, prioritizing sisterhood and Dalit femininity over individual suffering. As a woman writer, Kamble concedes that her primary task is to promote women’s emancipation and eradicate untouchability. She propitiously manages to portray Mahar women and their wounded selves. Utilizing Paik’s theory of Incremental Intersecting Technologies about caste, class, gender, sexuality, and agency as the framework, the paper seeks to answer the questions: How much consideration is given to the caste system, and what intersectional aspects have been integrated into discussions about Dalit women in the last twenty years.

Keywords: Untouchability, caste, class, gender, intersectionality.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Funding: No funding was received for this research.
Article History: Received: 29 February 2024. Revised: 21 June 2024. Accepted: 21 June 2024. First published: 23 June 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 by the author/s.
License: License Aesthetix Media Services, India. Distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by: Aesthetix Media Services, India
Citation: Verma, P. & Saraswat, S. & Datta, A. (2024). “The Humble Mahar Women Fall at Your Feet, Master.” Portrayal of the Psyche and Suffering of Mahar Women in Baby Kamble’s The Prisons We Broke. Rupkatha Journal 16:2. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.27g

Book Review: Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar

Book Review/Gender Studies/V16N22024

710 views

Publisher: Rupa Publications India; First Edition (1 December 2022); Rupa Publications India
Language: English. Hardcover: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 9355208103. ISBN-13: 978-9355208101

Reviewed by
Aditi Gupta
CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v16n2.23g. First published 23 June 2024.}
^{Full-Text PDF Issue Access}

Queersapien by Sharif D. Rangnekar is an intimate exploration into the multifaceted journey of a queer person, encapsulating the myriad instances of “coming out” that extend beyond the conventional narrative. In this poignant narrative, Rangnekar delves into the complexities of self-discovery, family disclosure, and the broader societal acceptance that marks the queer experience. The book skillfully navigates through the non-linear nature of the coming-out process, shedding light on the constant evaluation of risks and the perpetual quest for safe spaces in a world that does not always embrace queerness. Keep Reading

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