Fractured Lives, Unbroken Spirits: Women and Their Community in Nectar in a Sieve
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33806/ijaes1266Keywords:
economy, environment, marriage, poverty, social relationsAbstract
This research adopts a nuanced investigation of the junctures between economic uncertainty and women's subjective experiences in Markandaya’s (1954) Nectar in a Sieve. In rural areas of India, women often fall victims to the terrible economic conditions inadvertently caused by the advent of new projects. This research, through a detailed textual analysis, sheds light on the ways economic instability outlines the lives and experiences of women, by applying the theories of postcolonialism and ecofeminism. As for postcolonialism, the paper will apply Spivak’s ideas on the oppression of women and the role of modern projects in changing the people’s mentality. Additionally, the research will explore the connection between women and nature and the impact of that connection on the state of women. The bad economic conditions are seen in the perspective of the poverty encountered by the people, forcing them to interact, form groups, and defy social norms. The outcomes underline the debates among patriarchal structures, economic vulnerability and female resilience, highlighting the adaptive strategies and transformative mindsets employed by women and other characters in response to economic adversity. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the gendered dimensions of economic insecurity and the agency of women in navigating oppressive systems.
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