GENDER JUSTICE AND LITERATURE..

2.5 ENGLISH II (LAW AND LITERATURE)

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2022 – 2023

SEMESTER: II

SUBMITTED BY:

RAGHAV KULKARNI

UID: UG22-89

Email ID- [email protected]

SUBMITTED TO:

DR. SOPAN B. SHINDE

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,

NAGPUR
 1. INTRODUCTION AND APPROACH

1.1 Abstract

Gender Justice has grown to be one of the most interesting and popular academic
discourses in the world. The idea of gender justice has been deliberated upon by
various scholars. This research paper aims to study the notion of gender justice in the
domain of literature. This research paper attempts to address pertinent questions
such as what is gender? What is gender inequality? How does gender inequality gives
a rise to the need of gender justice? Furthermore, this research paper will focus on
the subject of women authors who published their certain works under male
pseudonyms and the reasons behind it in depth. It will also focus on various literary
works by Indian female authors regarding the idea of gender justice. In present time,
Films are also considered as a contemporary form of literature. And in the same
industry, too, exists the problem of gender inequality right from the poor depiction of
women in films and the opportunities available for them behind the screens in
creative expression such as direction, screenplay writing and various other parts.
This research paper will also study the challenges of gender inequality in the film
industries. The central focus of this paper is an attempt to show that even though
there have been significant instances in the domain of literature amounting to
empowerment of women and ensuring gender justice, there is a lot that still needs to
be done so that men and women can have equal footing in creative expression. The
paper will attempt to suggest certain solutions to overcome the same problem.

Key Words: Female, Gender, Gender Inequality, Gender Justice, Literature, Male,
Norms.

1.2 Introduction

Gender justice is a crucial point of discussion in the modern academic realm. But in order to
understand what gender justice is, it is crucial to ponder over a very fundamental question
what is gender? Gender is the state of being male or female in relation to the social and

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cultural norms that are considered appropriate for men and women respectively. 1 Based on
this definition, it can be said that there is a division of roles between male and female
genders. Considering history as a testament, it can be said that the male gender has for a
significant time dominated and oppressed the female gender which has led to unequal and
unfair treatment. When people are not treated equally based on gender due to their
distinctions regarding biology, thinking, social or cultural norms prevalent in the society,
such phenomenon is known as gender inequality. The very existence of gender inequality
gives rise to the need of an idea which ensures full equality and equity between women and
men in all spheres of life, resulting in women jointly, and on an equal basis with men,
defining and shaping the policies, structures and decisions that affect their lives and society
as a whole.2 This idea is termed as gender justice.

Literature is a powerful domain in which the idea of gender justice can be historically traced
and critically studied as to how it has evolved to the present day. This paper will discuss the
impact of literature on the idea of gender justice. It will specifically discuss upon the issue of
how and why various female authors either adopted or were forced to use male pseudonyms
to publish their work. It will entail a study of several literary works on gender justice by
women authors in India and ultimately, it will attempt to discuss a much more contemporary
issue regarding the need to ensure gender justice in film culture. Based on these specific
studies, this paper will evaluate the status of gender equality in the domain of literature and
attempt to suggest some solutions to improve the existing conditions.

1.3 Aim

The researcher in this research paper aims to understand the concepts of gender, gender
inequality and gender justice. In the light of several literary works, this paper aims to
understand how various gender justice related issues have been dealt with in the past. It also
aims to understand the prevailing conditions of gender inequality in the domain of film
culture and ultimately attempts to suggest some solutions to deal with the existing problems
regarding gender justice.

1
Collins Dictionary, DEFINITION OF “GENDER”, https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gender,
(last visited on 11 March 2023)
2
Oxfam International, GENDER JUSTICE AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS,
https://www.oxfam.org/en/what-we-do/issues/gender-justice-and-womens-rights, (last visited on 11 March
2023)

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2. GENDER JUSTICE AND LITERATURE

2.1 Gender Justice and Influence of Literature on it

The term “gender” refers to the phenomenon of being male and female, especially in the
context of their social and cultural differences rather than the differences in their biology. 3 As
mentioned in the definition, there are certain social and cultural differences when we talk
about gender. These differences create a clear divide between the male and the female.
Historically, the male has influenced these differences to conveniently subdue the female and
take undue advantage of the established dominance in all spheres of life. Gender justice is a
concept that seeks to alter this notion by ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and
equally regardless of their gender. It involves creating a society where gender-based
discrimination are eliminated, and gender identities and expressions are respected and valued
and all individuals have equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights, regardless of
their gender identity or expression.

Literature significantly influences the idea of gender justice. It does so in following ways.
Firstly, it provides a platform for discriminated individuals to be heard and their experiences
to be empathised with. Literature that portrays the struggles and triumphs of people who have
been historically discriminated on the basis of gender can help to increase awareness and
understanding of the issues they face in a realistic manner. Secondly, literature can
effectively encounter gender stereotypes and promote more nuanced and complex
understandings of gender. By depicting characters who do not conform to traditional gender
norms, literature can help to broaden our understanding of what it means to be a man or a
woman. This can create a more inclusive and accepting society, where individuals are free to
express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. Finally, literature can also
provide a space for critical reflection and dialogue about gender justice issues. Historically,
literature has been a powerful tool of activism. Whenever in a society, there arises a shift in
the mass thinking and a need for change, literature is one of the initial aspects that not only
adapts to, but influences such change before other aspect like law. Through reading and
discussing literature that deals with gender justice issues, individuals can gain a deeper
understanding of the complexities of gender inequality and the ways in which it manifests in

3
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, “GENDER”
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/gender?q=Gender, (last visited on 11 March
2023)

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our society. In summary, literature can be a powerful tool for promoting gender justice by
providing a platform for individuals discriminated based on gender, challenging gender
stereotypes, and fostering critical reflection and dialogue.

2.2 The Issue of the Male Pseudonym

Throughout the history of literature, there have been numerous instances when women
authors have appropriated and used male pseudonym to publish their work. This was a
convention followed by many women authors to deal with a number of social challenges. The
work of women authors was not always considered to be at par with the work of male authors
and often considered to be inconsequential and unworthy of attention. The prejudiced and
stereotypical idea of a women author would be enough to convince a man to not read her
book. Therefore, the male pseudonym was used to increase the male readership, as the
majority readers of that period were male. Sometimes women authors used the pseudonym
simply to experiment and get the response towards their work with the freedom of anonymity
of the author. Following are some examples of prominent women authors who used a male
pseudonym to publish their certain literary work.

1) The Brontë Sisters: Like many of their female contemporaries, literary sisters
Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, who are regarded as three of the greatest novelists
of all time, initially published their writings under the male aliases Currer, Ellis, and
Acton Bell, respectively. It is hardly unexpected that they chose male identities given
the responses to their writings, which included Emily's “Wuthering Heights” being
called “brutal” and “wicked.” “We did not like to declare ourselves women,”
Charlotte Brontë said, “since at that time, without suspecting that our way of writing
and thinking was not what is considered 'feminine,' we had a vague idea that
authoresses are liable to be looked upon with prejudice.”

2) Louisa May Alcott: While Louisa May Alcott's best-known book, Little Women, was
published under her own name, this American author frequently wrote thrilling gothic
thrillers under the mysterious pen name "A.M. Barnard" on subjects that were thought
"unladylike" for a female author in the late 19th century. “A Long Fatal Love
Pursuit,” a dark love story published two years before Little Women, and “Behind a
Mask,” a novella with themes of social class and manipulation, were two of Alcott's
works written under the pen name A.M. Barnard. In the 1940s, librarian Leona

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 Rostenberg and rare book merchant Madeleine B. Stern uncovered her covert male
alias.

3) Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin: Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, better known as
George Sand, was a famous writer in 19th-century France who was born in Paris in
1804. She was a storyteller who ridiculed the social mores of the society in which she
lived by spinning tales of love and social class. A pioneering early feminist, Russian
novelist Ivan Turgenev once said of George Sand, “what a brave man she was, and
what a good woman.” Dupin was also well-known for igniting debate in Parisian
social circles due to her at-the-time bold use of men's apparel, public smoking, and
frequent relationships.

4) Mary Ann Evans: Her parents were estate managers, and she was born in
Warwickshire in 1819. She was an intelligent little girl who was an avid book reader.
When she was employed as an assistant editor at the radical publication Westminster
Review, she made her first significant step into writing. She chose the male alias
George Eliot, which is more widely recognized. She was urged to start writing fiction
at this time by the English philosopher and critic George Henry Lewes. Evans thought
that using a male alias would prevent gender stereotypes towards her work. Evans is
noted for her politically perceptive writings, and one of her best-known works is
Middlemarch, which is regarded as one of the best novels ever.

5) J.K. Rowling: She is the mind behind the popular Harry Potter books, although she
intentionally chose for her initials to be vague. Barry Cunningham, her publisher,
believed that a book written by a woman may turn away the young male audience that
Harry Potter was intended for. Moreover, Rowling used the alias Robert Galbraith to
publish her 2013 criminal novel The Cuckoo's Calling, which drew certain criticism
when the real author's identity was made public. In regard to her decision, Rowling
defended it by saying, "I was yearning to go back to the beginning of a literary career
with this new genre, to work without hype or expectation and to receive completely
unvarnished feedback.

It is important to note here that this convention was not merely what it appeared to be on the
surface. Even if it was done probably to increase male readership, which it did, this practice
of using a male pseudonym had some subtle effects. It somehow normalised the idea that the
established gender-based prejudices against women should not be corrected but avoided. It in

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a way justified the conformism of the idea of who an author can be and moreover, what kind
of literature does a male author write, what does a female author write, and how is it
different. The feminine connotation would limit the ambit of creative liberty available at the
hand of these women authors. And if they wished to escape it, all they could do is to change
their own identity and not try to change the notion of conformism.

2.3 Literary Works by Women Authors on Gender Justice in India

India has had a vast history and during the course of this history, it has witnessed the notion
of patriarchy burying its tentacles deep into the domestic as well as public systems of the
Indian society. This has led to a great deal of oppression based upon gender inequality and
therefore, has been a grave issue. Women have been grossly tormented based on this belief
and, for a long period of time, deprived of essential parts of a social life that ensure one’s
dignity such as education, employment, participation in governance, and economic
independence. However, history is also the testament to the fact that women have used the
powerful tool of literature to spread awareness regarding the need of gender justice and
related social reforms. Following are some prominent Indian women authors who have
brought about significant changes through their literary contributions.

1) Savitribai Phule: She was an Indian social reformer, educationist, and poet who
actively worked for women's rights and the upliftment of the marginalized
sections of society. She is considered to be the first female teacher of India and the
mother of modern Marathi poetry. Phule's literature on gender justice is significant
and impactful, as it challenged the patriarchal norms and advocated for women's
education, empowerment, and equality. Some of her notable works are as follows.
“Kavya Phule” (1854) is a collection of poems that depicts the oppression faced
by women and Dalits in the Indian society. The poems also talk about the
importance of education and empowerment of women. “Bavan Kashi Subodh
Ratnakar” (1892) is a book that includes the stories of the lives of women who
have faced discrimination and oppression. It highlights the need for gender
equality and women's education. Stri Shiksha is her book that advocates for
women's education and talks about the benefits of educating women. The book
also highlights the social and economic barriers that prevent women from
accessing education. Through literature she also attempted to advocate for the

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 protection of female children from the horrifying issue of female infanticide. She
did this by publishing a pamphlet names “Balhatya Pratibandhak Ghoshvakya.”4

2) Tarabai Shinde: She was a 19th-century Indian feminist and social reformer who
wrote a seminal work on gender justice titled "Stri Purush Tulana" (A Comparison
Between Women and Men). This work was published in 1882 and is considered to
be one of the earliest feminist texts in India. In "Stri Purush Tulana," Shinde
critiques the oppressive gender norms and practices prevalent in Indian society at
the time, such as child marriage, purdah (seclusion of women), and the limited
education and economic opportunities available to women. She argues that
women are equal to men in all respects and that it is unjust to deny them equal
rights and opportunities. Shinde's work was radical for its time and challenged
traditional views on gender roles and hierarchy. She also wrote about the need for
women's education and economic independence, which she saw as crucial for their
empowerment.5

3) Ismat Chughtai: She was a prominent Urdu writer and feminist activist from India,
known for her work on issues related to gender justice. Her literature on gender
justice was ahead of its time exploring the lives of women, their struggles, and the
constraints imposed on them by patriarchal society. One of her most famous
works is the short story "Lihaf"6 (The Quilt), which was initially published in
1942. The story is about a young girl who is sent to stay with her aunt, who is
married to an older man. The girl discovers that her aunt is in a lesbian
relationship with her masseuse, and the story explores the ways in which women's
desires and sexuality are repressed and hidden in patriarchal society. For this
story, she was charged with “obscenity.” Subsequently, Chughtai defended herself
in court and eventually won the case. Chughtai's other works also deal with issues
related to women's sexuality, marriage, and domestic life. In her novel "Aangan"
(The Courtyard), Chughtai examines the lives of women living in a joint family
and the constraints imposed on them by patriarchal norms. Chughtai's writings
often challenged the status quo and provoked controversy.

4
Susie Tharu and K. Lalita (eds.), WOMEN WRITING IN INDIA, 1st ed. 1991, pp. 211-213.
5
Susie Tharu and K. Lalita (eds.), WOMEN WRITING IN INDIA, 1st ed. 1991, pp. 221-223.
6
Express Web Desk, “Who was Ismat Chughtai?”, THE INDIAN EXPRESS, New Delhi, August 21, 2018

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 4) Arundhati Roy: She is a well-known Indian author, activist, and feminist who has
written extensively on issues related to gender justice. Her work highlights the
intersections of gender with other forms of oppression, such as caste, class, and
religion. In her book "The God of Small Things," 7 Roy explores the experiences
of women in a patriarchal society and the impact of societal norms on their lives.
The novel also touches upon themes of sexual abuse and domestic violence,
shedding light on the challenges faced by women in India. “The Ministry of
Utmost Happiness” is also one of her prominent works that deal with a range of
themes, including political and social justice, gender and sexual identity, and the
intersection of religion and politics in contemporary India. Roy has also written
several essays and articles on gender justice, such as "The Greater Common
Good," which critiques the impact of large-scale development projects on
marginalized communities, especially women. In "The End of Imagination," she
examines the social and political factors that contribute to the prevalence of rape
and sexual violence against women in India.

2.4 Need of Gender Justice in Film Culture

Popular culture refers to the traditions and material culture of a particular society and cultural
components such as music, art, literature, fashion, dance, film, cyberculture, television, and
radio that are consumed by most of the society's population. Popular culture is those types of
media that have mass accessibility and appeal. 8 Today, one of the driving components of
popular culture is films. Films can also be considered as a form of literature as they are an
audio-visual representation of a screenplay and a creative expression with recognised artistic
merit. They also provide a huge platform full of enormous opportunities for people with this
creative and artistic expression. But since the time films have gained prominence, there has
been a persistent problem which is the lack of creative liberty and opportunities given to
women in-front-of and behind the camera. Women, since the time films gained popularity,
have been portrayed as the elements of glamour, often sexualised, and objectified, much to
the detriment of overall depiction of women which significantly influences their social

7
British Council, ARUNDHATI ROY, https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/arundhati-
roy#:~:text=Arundhati%20Roy%20was%20born%20in,the%20film%2Dmaker%20Pradip%20Krishen.,
(Visited on March 28, 2023).
8
Ashley Crossman, SOCIOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF POPULAR CULTURE,
https://www.thoughtco.com/popular-culture-definition-3026453, (last visited on 11 March 2023)

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perception. Because of this, often female characters are written with a lack of substance and
do not add anything unique or substantial to the plot of the film.

However, in recent times there have been a lot of films which were made in regard of the
subject of gender justice and women empowerment. In these films the female characters were
central to the story of the film. Their characters were properly fleshed out and character arcs
were completed masterfully. The films that will be discussed hereafter are Dangal (2016),
Pink (2016), and Mary Kom (2014).

"Dangal" is a 2016 Indian biographical sports drama film directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The film
is based on the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, an Indian amateur wrestler who trained
his daughters Geeta Kumari Phogat and Babita Kumari Phogat to become world-class
wrestlers against the odds of an orthodox society and gender-based conventions. The film
stars Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanya Malhotra in central roles. This film
brilliantly depicts the existing social taboos and conditions that women have to face till date.
In rural India, where presence of patriarchy is prevalent, this film deals with issues right from
the kind of clothing women should and should not wear, to the kind of aspirations they are
allowed to pursue in their lives. The film was a commercial and critical success and garnered
a lot of appraisals for realistic depiction of women empowerment.

"Pink" is a social-legal drama movie directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and starring
Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang in central roles. The
movie revolves around three young women who are charged with a serious crime, and their
legal battle with the Indian judicial system, which is shown in the movie. The movie
highlights the issue of women's safety and consent. It puts up a pertinent question as to what
social standards determine the character of a woman and a man for the same action. It
received critical acclaim for its message and performances.

"Mary Kom" is a 2014 Indian biographical sports film directed by Omung Kumar and
starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead role. The film is based on the life of Mary Kom, an
Indian female boxer who has won several international medals for India in international
boxing championships. The movie depicts Mary Kom's journey from a young girl from a
small village in Manipur to becoming a world-class boxer, overcoming various obstacles and
challenges along the way. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a
commercial success at the box office. This film and this story stand as a testament to the fact
that a woman can not only be able to play a sport which is typically dominated by men but

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also be better at it than them and how grossly it is wrong to conform her to the bounds of a
kitchen and not let her chase her aspirations and dreams.

These films have proven that women are not always supposed to be depicted as elements of
glamour. There is always more to their story than their mere appearances. What these
characters can offer and what artistic feat can be achieved by these performances is
something to be paid attention to. However, the issue is not resolved. The problem still
persists as these films do not reach the masses properly and especially the target population
where the message and awareness need to be spread. Moreover, movies still get made in
which the typical depiction of women is done and their characters are portrayed in a very
insensitive and offensive manner. This needs to stop. More films need to be made in which
the idea of gender justice is conveyed efficiently through adequate opportunities given to
both men and women.

On similar lines, a major contention stands regarding the directorial jobs which are a very
prestigious position in the making of any film. It is the director’s vision through which we
envisage the cinema. For a sensitive issue such as gender justice, it is important to see a story
through the lens of the one who understands the gravity of the situation, the one who is on the
receiving end of the prejudiced treatment so that their real plight is conveyed in a raw and
candid manner. The Academy Award of Motion Picture and Arts is the most prestigious
award bestowed upon any cinematic artist. However, in its history of 95 editions, only thrice
have women won the award for Best Directing. This is a complex issue which dwells out of a
more fundamental problem that how often are women given an opportunity to direct certain
films that can yield such honours. Changes have been made; the condition of women has
evolved a lot from how it was but it is not enough. With the coming of diverse platforms for
all movies and TV shows, it is important to give women opportunities where they have
liberty for creative expression. Their stories being told by them is important. So that gender
sensitization takes place in an appropriate manner.

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3. CONCLUSION

Gender justice is one of the most significant academic discourses taking place today. Right
from the inception of the concept and through its evolution, the idea of gender justice and
women rights have been an important part of literature. Literature having significant impact
on social perceptions of gender, influences the ideas of gender justice and dynamics of social
hierarchy between genders.

Historically, there have been issues as to how females have been mistreated by males due to
orthodox conventions. However so, literature has been a powerful tool put to use by both men
and women to generate the ideas of gender equality among people even though they were
challenged by a backlash. Gradually changes have been brought about. Today, even though
men and women do not have entirely established an equal footing in various sects of society,
they are in a better position than they were in the past.

A lot of work still needs to be done. Men and women should be provided with sufficient
opportunities as required for artistic creative expression so that parity between them can be
achieved. It is important to note that not only opportunities are to provided to both the groups
to establish gender equality, but also these works are to be circulated and to be made
available to masses in the form in which they can be well understood and appreciated. With
effective implementation of such ideas, gender equality can be considered to be an achievable
goal.

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