Deconstructing Feminine Identity Using Spivak's Subaltern Lens

Authors

  • B. Subhashini SRM IST
  • Maeed Almarhabi Umm Al Qura University
  • P. Revathi Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology
  • S. Vijayakumar B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
  • A. Sathikulameen The New College
  • Akhter Habib Shah Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
  • Huda Majeed Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1506.25

Keywords:

critical interventions, subaltern, feminism, Gayathri Spivak, deconstruction

Abstract

This study examines Gayatri Spivak's contributions to post-colonial and subaltern studies. The study aims to identify the elements that make Spivak's work relevant, distinctive, and vital amid a deluge of literary theories. Throughout her work, Spivak explores the experiences of oppressed women. Subaltern women's identification and struggle have been fundamentally challenged in her publications. This study highlights Spivak's distinctive critical perspective, incorporating and transcending some essential modern critical theories, including feminism and subaltern studies. In addition, the study engages with post-colonial interpretations of the Bengali collection of short stories. The “Breast Giver challenges the post-colonial narrative and consciousness within the preeminent ideological paradigms. According to the subaltern interpretation of the selected narrative, many different and complex ways exist to represent women. In addition, there are differing degrees of agency, prejudice, oppression, and possibility of action on the part of the main female character. Due to this, the texts' interpretations are diverse and varied, resisting readers' quick judgments about subaltern tyranny.

Author Biographies

B. Subhashini, SRM IST

Department of English and Foreign Languages

Maeed Almarhabi, Umm Al Qura University

English Language Department

P. Revathi, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology

Department of English

S. Vijayakumar, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology

Department of English

A. Sathikulameen, The New College

Postgraduate & Research Department of English

Akhter Habib Shah, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

Department of English

Huda Majeed, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

Department of English

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Published

2025-06-01

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