Resilience and Agency: A Feminist Analysis of Beyond The Fields by Ayesha Baqir

Abstract

The present research study aims to analyze Ayesha Baqir’s Beyond the Fields through providing a feminist perspective in light of Marxist Feminism. This conveys the idea that women have been the victim of gender stereotyping and gender discrimination for decades. They are fighting to have the recognition of their worthy identity under the movement of feminism across the globe. The present study has the motive to highlight this issue through the feminist analysis of Ayesha Baqir’s Beyond The Fields. The analysis reveals that gender stereotyping is present in typical mindset of rural community. The study opens the minds towards certain enlightenment to break the manacles of gender stereotyping and gender discrimination through the mode of education to lit the dark minds. In Pakistani society, the unconventional role of women is still not an acceptable option. The issue has been raised by different literary figures to fight against the marginalization. Baqir also raises the voice against female oppression. The findings delineate that the selected fiction is the moving account of Zara’s struggle to get her twin sister Tara back. Zara has to go through a hard journey to accomplish her goal. But her sufferings bring the worthy results. The tragedy commences when one afternoon, Tara is raped in the fields. The horrible reality of the village gets surfaced where home is the best choice for a woman while fields are meant for men. When a woman enters into the world of man, she is robbed of her honor. The novel addresses other gender biased issues like marriage, education, divorce as well.