TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISM IN ARUNDHATI ROY‟S NOVELS AND ESSAYS BY SYEDDA FAREEHA HUSSAIN BINTI SYED MOHD. JAVED HUSSAIN A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia NOVEMBER 2018
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TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISM IN ARUNDHATI ROY‟S
NOVELS AND ESSAYS
BY
SYEDDA FAREEHA HUSSAIN BINTI SYED MOHD.
JAVED HUSSAIN
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for
the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary
Studies)
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human
Sciences
International Islamic University Malaysia
NOVEMBER 2018
ii
ABSTRACT
Arundhati Roy is an example of an Indian literary figure who is known for actively
addressing issues that concern the world. Her early writing career was centred on
issues in India. Over the years, her writings included issues at the international level.
In fact, her journey in the literary and humanitarian realm has seen her transcend
national borders. In regard to that, this study aims to discover transnational feminism
in Arundhati Roy‟s novels The God of Small Things (1997) and The Ministry of
Utmost Happiness (2017) and three selected essays namely “The Great Indian Rape
Trick I” (1994), “My Seditious Heart: An Unfinished Diaries of Nowadays” (2016)
and “Capitalism A Ghost Story” (2014). Using the transnational feminist theoretical
framework, this study identifies the predicament of women around the world. This
study finds that women end up in a disadvantaged position mainly because of pre-
existing customary practices in society. The development of characters is seen in the
second novel. The characters from her second novel adopt the idea of transnational
feminism regardless of whether they are male or female. As a matter of fact, she
introduces the third gender to bridge the gap between men and women which is her
way of supporting transnational feminism. The essays on the other hand show how
Roy addresses issues pertaining to women at the national level and then slowly
transcends to include women at the international level. In doing so, she makes use of
the different layers of society such as the individual, family, national community and
international community. Besides that, Roy uses mixed gender struggles and the
unification of different struggles with women‟s struggles to bring forward
transnational feminism. This proves the interconnection between atrocities women
face at the national and international level. It is hoped that this study on Roy‟s
transnational feminism will be able to give a better understanding of her inclusive
approach in defining the world.
iii
خلاصة البحثABSTRAC IN ARABIC
أرونداتي روي مثال للشخصيّة الأدبيّة الهنديةّ المعروفة بنشاطها في معالجة القضايا التي تهم العالم. حيث كانت مسنًتها المهنيّة السابقة في الكتابة تتمحور في قضايا الهند. وعلى مرّ السننٌ، تطورت
المستوى الدولّي. في الواقع، رحلتها في المجالنٌ: الأدبّي والإنسانّي قد كتاباتها لتشمل القضايا على جعلتها تتخطى الحدود الوطنيّة. وفي ىذا الصدد، تهدف ىذه الدراسة إلى اكتشاف النسويةّ عبر
والوزارة للسعادة القصوىم(، 7991) الله لأشياء صغنًةالوطنيّة في روايات أرونداتي روي: م(، 7991مقالات مختارة وىي: "خطف الاغتصاب الهندي العظيم الأوّل" )م(، وثلاثة 7171)
م(، و"الرأسماليّة قصّة أشباح" 7172"قلبي الفتّنة: يوميات غنً مكتملة في أيامنا ىذه" )م(. باستخدام الإطار النظريّ النسويّ عبر الوطنّي، تحدد ىذه الدراسة مأزق النساء حول 7171)
راسة إلى أنْ النساء ينتهي بهن المطاف إلى وضع محرّم بسبب الممارسات العالم. وتخلص ىذه الدالعرفيّة الموجودة في المجتمع. في دراسة روايتنٌ لها، ينظر إلى تطور الشخصيات في الرواية الثانية.تتبنى
ثى. الشخصيات من روايتها الثانية فكرة النسويةّ عبر الوطنيّة بغض النظر عمّا إذا كانت ذكراً أم أنفي واقع الأمر، فإنّّا تقدّم النوع الثالث من أجل سد الفجوة بنٌ الرجال والنساء، وىي طريقتها في دعم الحركة النسائيّة عبر الوطنية. من ناحية أخرى ، تظهر المقالات كيفية عالجت روي القضايا
على المستوى الدولي. المتعلقة بالمرأة على المستوى الوطني، ثّم متجاوزة ذلك ببطء لتشمل النساء وبذلك، تستفيد من طبقات المجتمع المختلفة مثل الفرد، والأسرة، والمجتمع القوميّ، والمجتمع الدولّي. وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، استخدمت روي صراعات مختلطة بنٌ الجنسنٌ وتوحيد الصراعات المختلفة
ىذا يثبت الترابط بنٌ الفظائع التي مع نضال النساء من أجل تحقيق الحركة النسائيّة عبر الوطنيّة.تواجو النساء على المستوى الوطنّي والدولّي. ومن المأمول أنْ تكون ىذه الدراسة في الحركة النسائيّة عبر الوطنيّة لروي قادرة على تقديم فهم أفضل من خلال نّجها الشامل في تعريف العالم بشكل
.محدد واضح
iv
APPROVAL PAGE
I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms
to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and
quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary
Studies).
…………………………………
Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf
Supervisor
I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable
standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a
dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies).
…………………………………
Siti Nuraishah Ahmad
Internal Examiner
This dissertation was submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature
and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human
Sciences (English Literary Studies).
…………………………………
Aimillia Mohd. Ramli
Head, Department of English
Language and Literature
This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and
Human Sciences and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of
Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies).
…………………………………
Mohammad Abdul Quayum
Dean, Kulliyyah of Islamic
Revealed Knowledge and Human
Sciences
v
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except
where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently
submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions.
No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the
copyright holder except as provided below
1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research
may only be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgement.
2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies (print
or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes.
3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieved system
and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by other
universities and research libraries.
By signing this form, I acknowledged that I have read and understand the IIUM
Intellectual Property Right and Commercialization policy.
Affirmed by Syedda Fareeha Hussain Binti Syed Mohd. Javed Hussain
……..…………………….. ………………………..
Signature Date
vii
DEDICATION
To Chewy, Pie and Fluffy,
my companions through many long nights of writing…
viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to Allah S.W.T. in giving me
the perseverance and strength to complete this thesis. It is with His blessings that I am
able to acquire this achievement.
I cannot thank my supervisor Prof. Dr. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf enough for
her guidance and relentless efforts in ensuring I reach the finish line. My interest in
women‟s writing was in fact sparked by her lectures on Women’s Writing Around the
World. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my co-supervisor Dr. Wan Nur
Madiha Ramlan for her suggestions and guidance in directing my thesis in the right
way. My respect goes to the both of you.
To my parents Syed Mohd. Javed Hussain and Aisha Begum, thank you for
your love and support throughout the writing of this thesis. Papa, I will always
remember your words of wisdom. Ammi, your push is what that has brought me here
today. To my brother Syed Akbar Hussain, thank you for the video calls to boost my
spirit and uplift me.
To my friends Nurul Izzati, Mahya Abolmasoomi, Nurul Hanin and Nurul
Hanani thanks for being there for me and encouraging me all the way through this
journey. To Mr. Muhammad Hafeez Ashraf, thank you for making me gain a new
perspective on feminism. Last but not least, I would like to thank Kak Noorsiah
Abdullah from DELL for her support in the administrative setting. Thank you all....
ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract .................................................................................................................. ii Abstract In Arabic .................................................................................................. iii Approval Page ........................................................................................................ iv
Declaration ............................................................................................................. v Copyright ............................................................................................................... vi Dedication .............................................................................................................. vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ viii Table of contents .................................................................................................... ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 1 1.1 Background Of The Research ............................................................. 1
1.2 Statement Of The Problem .................................................................. 6 1.3 Significance Of The Study .................................................................. 8 1.4 Scope Of The Study ............................................................................ 9 1.5 Objectives Of The Study ..................................................................... 10
1.6 Research Questions ............................................................................. 10 1.7 Literature Review ................................................................................ 11
1.8 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................... 17 1.9 Methodology ....................................................................................... 24 1.10 Limitations Of The Study .................................................................. 25
1.11 Outline Of Chapters ........................................................................... 25
CHAPTER TWO: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSNATIONAL
FEMINISM ........................................................................................................... 27 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 27 2.2 Theory Of Transnational Feminism .................................................... 27
CHAPTER THREE: TRANSNATIONAL FEMINISM IN ARUNDHATI
4.2.1 The Great Indian Rape Trick I (1994) ....................................... 62 4.2.2 My Seditious Heart: An Unfinished Diary of Nowadays
(2016) ......................................................................................... 67 4.2.3 Capitalism: A Ghost Story (2014) ............................................. 80
x
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ................................. 93 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 93 5.2 Transnational Feminism In Arundhati Roy‟s Novels And Essays...... 94
5.3 Women Of Various Backgrounds In Arundhati Roy‟s Works ........... 95 5.4 Treatment Of The Traditionally Marginalised In Arundhati Roy‟s
Works .................................................................................................. 96 5.5 Struggles Of Women In Areas Of Conflict In India And Beyond ...... 96 5.6 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 97
5.7 Recommendations For Future Research ............................................. 98