The Intersection of Gender and Violence: Female Disempowerment in Sidhwa’s Cracking India

Abstract

This study explores the underrepresented issues of gender persecution during and after the partition of India, focusing on how Sidhwa's novel "Ice Candy Man" addresses these themes. The research reveals the subjugation of women to violence, including rape, forced marriages, and other forms of sexual abuse, as depicted in the novel. Sidhwa portrays women's suffering and societal marginalization, leading to family honor killings in cases of dishonor. The study highlights how Sidhwa represents this persecution, marginalization, and violence as a disgraceful event. By examining Sidhwa's selected works, the study demonstrates how women are oppressed, controlled, and exploited by men under social, cultural, and religious customs. The research aims to provide a feminist perspective on Sidhwa's depiction of women's experiences during the Partition of India and the impact of this conflict on them. The objective is to analyze the characters' representation of women's conditions during this critical period and their development throughout the story. The study conducts an extensive analysis of the novel, focusing on female characters like Lenny, Ayah, and Lenny's mother and Godmother, their relationships with other characters, and the differences among them based on social status and ethnicity.