DECONSTRUCTING CULTURAL NARRATIVES OF MOTHERHOOD AND GENDER HIERARCHY IN CONTEMPORARY FICTION
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Abstract
Motherhood is a universal biological phenomenon that is influenced by cultural norms and practices in various societies. Motherhood is often viewed as a responsibility that deprives a woman of all other perquisites, and she is expected to forego her own life ambitions and endure all hardships in order to provide her children with social and financial security. By employing the theory of radical feminism, this article intends to critically analyze the narratives described in the novels: This House of Clay and Water and It Ends with Us in order to understand the construction of motherhood at personal and social levels as well as its implications on a woman’s life. The article contends that women show invulnerability against patriarchal violence when they experience motherhood. The article concludes that motherhood provides women with strength that allows them to show resistance against oppression. In contemporary times, women who embrace and acclaim motherhood negate the tradition that having children constrains them to bear male domination. Although feminism has gained popularity, patriarchy still determines the position of women in Pakistani society, therefore, it is imperative to amplify their voices.
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