FEMINIST STRUGGLES OF A MOTHER: A STUDY OF SHASHI DESHPANDE’S THAT LONG SILENCE

Abstract

‘Motherhood’ as one often understands is quite the patriarchal definition of the term. It is assumed that women pine to be mothers, in fact, women bodies’ are made to bear and rear children. But since the dawn of feminist awakening, such conceptualizations have been repeatedly questioned and undercut. Women’s representation in monolithic terms has been variously challenged as superficial and unreal. Among the most prominent feminist dissents, is the one offered by Shashi Deshpande. She not only exposes the ideological background to the constructions of femininity, but also how women need to get out of the male gaze and figure out the various levels to their personalities. There is no need to forego one’s individuality either as mothers or professionals. This paper seeks to establish the same vis-à-vis one of the most applauded works of Deshpande, That Long Silence.