Eco-Feminism and Its Impact on Gender Construction in Sidhwa’s The Pakistani Bride

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of eco-feminism on gender construction through the fictional representation in Bapsi Sidhwa’s The Pakistani Bride (1990) in the guidelines of the theoretical framework applied - Judith Butler’s gender performativity. It is an attempt to trace elements of ecofeminism and gender construction in the novel under study to add a new dimension different from the old and traditional feminist and gender perspectives. Ecofeminism is a newly theoretical perspective that creates the common bond between nature and women, both being the victims of the hegemonic (Adams, 1994) socio-cultural dominant powers. Therefore, the two schools of thought, feminism and ecology, highlight inequalities and discrimination against both the victims on the platform of ecofeminism. Furthermore, similarly subservient segments of society and nature suffer at the hands of the patriarchal and gender biased culture. That is why eco-feminists unfold the identical features of nature and women like nurturing, caring and sacrificial affections that can be found inherent in the two. Thus, the story of gender categorized culture does not end upon the wretchedness of ecological structure, the novel proceeds to mark the force of socio-cultural taboos constituting gender constraints for its weaker segment in power.