Male Chauvinism in Afghan Society: An Analysis of A Thousand Splendid Suns

  • Dr. Waheed Ahmad Khan Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Dr. Shaukat Ali Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Malakand, Chakdara Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Mr. Gul Zamin Khan Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Malakand, Chakdara Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Keywords: Male Chauvinism, Patriarchy, Nang, Namoos, Marginalisation, Pashtunwali

Abstract

The paper is an attempt to analyze the dominant role of the male community in Afghan society.  Western Feminists such as Judith Butler claim that all women face the same problems. However, their claim is challenged by Chandra Talpade Mohanty (1991) who is of the view that the claim of universal sisterhood is based on ethnocentricity. This paper analyses the inferior status of women in the patriarchal system of Afghanistan where people live under their cultural code called Pashtunwali. Pashtunwali assigns an active role to the male community under their privileged status while women are restricted to homes.  In this society, a man has to be rigid, authoritative and must keep women under his iron hands.  A man of weak nerves has no respect in Afghan society; he has to be strong enough to protect the honor of his family.  The study is based on textual analysis of Khaled Hosseini's novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, in the light of Mohanty's views (1991).  Hosseini (2008) criticizes the marginalized status of women in Afghan society. Though the Afghan society is influenced by globalization which gives some space to women for social activities, male chauvinism remains the main feature of Pashtun culture wherein people are ruled by a male-oriented code of conduct called Pashtunwali.

Published
2021-05-08