EXPLORING RADICAL FEMINISM THROUGH CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI’S ONE AMAZING THING (2010)

Abstract

Feminism is a series of collective efforts, progressive movements, and philosophies aiming at defining and building gender representation in politics, economics, family, and society. Within the corporate world, Feminism reflects the position that companies give priority to male viewpoint(s) and that in these cultures, women are unfairly punished. This paper probes Radical Feminism as reflected in the major female characters of One Amazing Thing (2010) by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The novel deals not only with the theme of women’s voice, but also with social conflicts. Radical feminism is a perspective within feminism that calls for a radical reorganization of society in which male authority is abolished in all social and economic contexts. Radical feminists view society as fundamentally patriarchal in which men govern and dominate women. Radical feminists seek to abolish patriarchy in order to release everyone from an unfair society by challenging existing social standards and institutions. This includes opposing the sexual objectification of women, spreading awareness about women’s rights among society and also about such issues as rape, harassment, extortion and violence against women, and challenging the concept of gender roles. One Amazing Thing by Divakaruni explores many perspectives around this Theory of Literature. The work of fiction narrates the story of nine different characters and among them five are female. All the female characters possess an important role in this novel which shows the importance of women’s voice. The novel depicts the pains and problems faced by the women of Indian and American-Indian society and the way it (can) lead(s) to Radical Feminism.