The Conflict Between the ‘Real’ and ‘Surreal’ - Shekure’s Stance against The Commodification of Femininity and Feminine Desire

Abstract

Gender complementarities’ and ‘feminine desire’ have often been contested by different theorists, but Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble, in this regard is of great significance. Butler in her book, intensely states that women have been traditionally indiscernible as far as their political representation is concerned. Therefore the most important goal of feminist theory has been to develop a language which denotes women, especially as far as their visibility in political sphere is concerned. In this regard Butler talks about gender binaries and ‘gender complementarities’. This paper takes a closer look at the character of Shekure from  OrhanPamuk’s novel, My Name is Red and argues that Shekure emerges as a woman who has successfully transcended the  redundant concept of ‘feminine desire’ and has actively subverted any expectations that the social  milieu had from her.