Tracing Asymmetrical Heterosexuality in Zaib-Un-Nisa Hamidullah’s The Bull and the She Devil: A Feminist Psychoanalytical Perspective

Abstract

The study investigates the problematics of gender, sexuality, and identity by tracing psychological, cultural, historical, regional, social, and economic origins of asymmetrical gendered binaries in Zaib-Un-Nisa Hamidullah’s The Bull and the She Devil. The complex relationship of Gulam Qadir, and Shirin in Zaib-Un-Nisa Hamidullah’s The Bull and the She Devil is studied through Object relation theory. The research paradigm is qualitative, and textual analysis of the short story is done in order to highlight the conscious, and unconscious processes that influence Qadir’s self- perception which is dictated by heterosexual norms. The study uses Nancy J Chodorow’s Femininities, Masculinities, and Sexualities: Freud and Beyond to study Oedipal phase of gender development that defines roles, and enforces identities on males, and females, thus encouraging inequalities in the society. The research criticizes universal gender categories that exclude regional, cultural, historical, personal, and racial variations. This study also utilizes Marc Feign Fasteau’s The Male Machine to interpret repressive patriarchal ideologies that limit Ghulam Qadir’s sexuality.