MASCULINITY IS THE PRODUCT OF PATRIARCHY:ANALYZING TRADITIONAL AND SOCIETAL CONVICTIONS OF GENDER ROLES IN SHEEBA SHAH’S FACING MY PHANTOMS

Abstract

This research mainly depicts the major issue of the subversion of gender roles and aims to present the possible causes and consequences of subversion of gender roles in the novel Facing My Phantoms by Sheeba Shah. The male characters are unsuccessful to accomplish the assigned traditional masculine traits and it is the females who have occupied that role that ultimately lead to subvert the traditional gender roles. These male characters have not been able to confirm the male values, practices, and traits. Rather they have adopted and exposed feminine qualities like emotional, irrational, timid, dependent, etc. Hence, consequently, some of them are killed and chased away from their home. But, on the contrary, females are bold, courageous, independent, rational, and so on. By highlighting the condition of reversal of traditional gender roles, this research aims to prove that females are no less than males. They also can lead the society, family, and even the nation in absence of males. To prove the hypothesis, this project borrows some ideas from the critics like Judith Butler, Chris Baker, Roger Lanchaster, Kate Millet, Judith Halberstam, and so on.