Understanding the Patterns of Growth of Indian New Woman: Comparative Analysis of Select Fiction by Mahasweta Devi, Manju Kapur, Rupa Bajwa and Shobha De

Abstract

Feminist historiography, feminist writers and critics from the West as well as East have already
done a commendable job by revealing the historical process of women’s subjugation, their
rising out of various suppressive power structures and occurrence of the phenomenon called
‘new woman’ in society as well as literature. A systematic exploration of western feminism &
feministic theories underlines seven types of feminist thought that had also some impact on the
women of emerging countries like India. These are: Liberal, Marxist, Socialist, Radical,
Psychoanalytical, Existential and Post-modem feminism. It also brings out various sociopolitical, historical and economic factors that led to the emergence of new woman in 19th
century. But this image of new woman never remained static rather it kept on assuming various
forms and shades over the time. Since 1980s, the standpoint feminists of the West have
emphasized that feminist movement must address those concerns that are rampant at the global
level such as sexual assaults, unlawful carnal knowledge or adultery etc. They have taken
feministic trends beyond the trivial politics of equal rights and opportunities thereby giving
birth to a new wave of feminism i.e. the New Feminism.