What is Feminism?

What is Feminism?

The term 'feminism' has varied uses and it's meanings and definitions are often contested. Some writers use the term 'feminism' to refer to a historically specific political movement in Europe and United States while other writers use it to refer to the belief that there are injustices against women.

The definitions of 'Feminism' (fe-me-ni-zem) noun:-

1.The advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.

2. The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.

3. The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

Feminism has been one of the key isms and social movement of contemporary times. 'It is the radical idea that women's safety is more important than men's feelings'. In the main, it stands for the title, liberty and freedom of women in society. it looks upon women as an exemplary and rational human being opposes all kinds of exploitation and nepotism of women in the male dominated society, considers both men and women equal and independent beings and desires to transform the patriarchal order and it's two institutions (marriage and family) into a new social order based on male-female parity and evenness in all scope and walk of life.

As a movement feminism tries to arouse class consciousness among women and calls upon them to get methodized into women organization so that they may gain to spend their lives in their own unforced way and to their affinity and liking. Women must come along to develop themselves amply and positively on the basis of their natural ability. It is governed by the objective of enabling women to play their due, useful and active role in all expanse of social, economic and political life by freeing themselves of male domination and oppression which more or less continues to characterise every society. It stands for women's rights and transformation of society from a male dominated into a society of unbiased men and women.

#Scholars on feminism :-

*Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way world perceives that strength - G.D.Anderson

*Feminism is the radical notion that women are people - Cheris Karamarae

*Feminism is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of women issues- Charlott Bunch

*Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with.

It's about freedom, it's about liberation, it's about equality- Emma Watson.

Central themes of feminism :-

* Feminism holds that women are foremost human beings, and not objects of sex. They shouldn't be looked upon only as wives and mothers but as equal human beings. They are usually considered as 'second sex'. As a human person, women are as important and better as men. They should therefore have equal importance and role in the society.

* Women are as much rational beings as men and they have the ability to regulate themselves. Feminism doesn't believe that women are endowed with lower faculties. Their true faculties can only be determined when they have the opportunity to develop their faculties like male counterparts.

* Feminism states to deserve appreciation as an ideology which strongly advocates women equality, women emancipation, women empowerment, women welfare and women development. However it states that male domination is a fact but it has to be corrected neither by revolution nor by any anti-maleism. It has to be rectified without hating menfolk.

Strands of feminism :-

* Liberal feminism - it asserts the equality of men and women through political and legal form. It is an individualistic form of feminism which focuses on women's ability to maintain their equality.

It focuses on issues such as sexual harassment, voting, education, reproductive and abortion rights, domestic violence against women etc.

Example - "At the heart of freedom : feminism, sex and equality "(1998) by 'Corneel' and 'Drucilla'

*Radical feminism - it considers the male controlled capitalist hierarchy, as the defining feature of women's oppression. They totally favor in uprooting the male based authority and reconstruct the society in order to achieve their goals.

Example -"Sexual politics" (1970)by 'Kate Millet'

*Marxist feminism - it arises out of the doctrine of Karl Marx whose theory claims to dismantle the capitalism as a way to liberate women.

Example -"Marxism and the oppression of women: toward a unitary theory "(1983) by 'Lise Vogel'.

*Black feminism - it argues that sexism, class oppression and racism are inextricably bound together. These are led by the black females who experience more intense kind of oppression more than white women.

Example -"Ain't I a woman? "(1981) by 'Bell hooks'.

*Postmodern feminism -  it is an approach to feminist theory that incorporate postmodern and post-structuralist theory. It states that gender is only constructed  through language and equality is still defined from the masculine or patriarchal perspective 

Example-"Gender Trouble "(1990) by 'Judith Butler '.

History of feminism

"Feminism is both an intellect commitment and a political movement that seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms ". The dawn of the nineteenth and twentieth century witnessed changes in almost every aspect of the day-to-day lives of women, from domestic sphere to public. The movement was motivated by the quest for social justice of women in all the sectors. It was a secret and veiled wish of every women in the world which was treasured deep indeed in their heart and soul. Thus, crossing the male-dominant line of decorum, they started to protest and demand their rights and justice roaming around the streets with banners and potent slogans.

The word 'feminisme' (advocacy of women's rights) was credited to be coined by 'Charles Fourier', an utopian socialist and French philosopher in 1837. Then the wave of feminism formally began at the Seneca Falls Conventions in 1848 when three hundred men and women rallied to the cause of equality for women. But the words 'feminisme'(feminism) and 'feministe'(feminist)  first appeared to be used in France and Netherlands in 1872, Great Britain in the 1890s and the United States in 1910. Although the term 'feminism' and 'feminist' didn't gain widespread use until the 1970s, they were already being used in the public parlance much earlier; for instance, Katherine Hepburn speaks of the feminist movement in the 1942 film woman of the year. During much if it's history, most feminist movements and theories had leaders who were predominantly middle-class women from Western Europe and North America.

According to feminist scholars 'Rebecca Walker' and 'Maggie Humm' the history of feminism can be divided into three waves. The first feminist wave in the nineteenth century (mainly concerned with women's rights to vote),  the second wave was in the 1960s and 1970s( which campaigned for legal and social rights for women) and the third extends from the 1990s to the present ( a reaction to the perceive failures of second wave feminism).  Feminist theory emerged from these feminist movements.

First wave feminism :-

First wave feminism refers to an extended period of feminist activity during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century in the United Kingdom and United States. It emerged out of an environment of urban industrialisms liberal, socialist politics. The goal of this wave was to open up opportunities for women, with a focus on suffrage. It was formally introduced at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 when three hundred men and women rallied to the cause of equality for women.

Feminism, in its early stages focused on the promotion of equal contract and property rights for women and the opposition to chattel marriage and ownership of married women (and their children by their husbands. The vote and women's Participation in politics led to an examination of the difference between men and women as they were viewed. Some claimed that women were morally superior to men and so their present civic sphere would improve public behavior and political process. However, by the end of the 19th century activism focused primarily on gaining political power particularly the rights of women's suffrage.

Second wave feminism :-

Second wave feminism refers to the period of activity in the early 1960s and lasting through late 1980s. Second wave feminism has continued to exists since the first wave and co-exists again with the term third wave feminism. The wave unfolded in the context of anti-war and civil rights movements and the growing self consciousness of a variety of minority groups around the world. The voice and atmosphere of the second wave was increasingly radical.

Many writers stood up for the women empowerment and wrote in favor of women largely. Even black feminism was prominent and prompting in this phase. They raised their fingers to the issues of equality and reflecting on sexist power structure.

In this phase, sexuality and reproductive rights were the most dominant issues and much of the movement's energy was focused on passing the equal rights amendment to the constitution guaranteeing social equality regardless of gender, caste and race. It focuses on the interior arenas like domestic violence and sexual assault. It provoked some laws and important steps to end these stereotypes and patriarchal perspective. It was largely concerned on ending discrimination.

Third wave feminism :-

Third wave feminism began in the early 1990s, arising as a response to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second wave. This wave was influenced by the post-colonial and post-modern thinking. In these phase many constructs were destabilized including the notions of 'universal womanhood', body, gender, sexuality and heteronormativity. It seeks to avoid the definitions of feminity presented by the second wave and seek to challenge it.

Women in this phase stepped onto the platform as strong and empowered eschewing victimization and defining feminine beauty for themselves, not as objects of sexist patriarchy. They used verbal weapons to subvert the sexist culture. They rejected the word feminist as they found it limiting and exclusionary. 'Grrl-feminism' tends to be global and multi cultural which was accepted by the feminist of this phase.

Third wave feminists denied to be silently confined to a domestic world that cocooned them from the harsh realities. Third wave feminism breaks the boundary claiming to believe that there are no inherent differences between sexes and contended that gender roles are due to social conditioning. It is just a stereotype blindfolded the society and hyped the feminine values.

Hypothesis

"A girl should be two things: who and what she wants to be".

Feminism is only intended to challenge and question the inequalities women face on a daily basis. It claims to regard both men and women are equal in all the prospects except for the physical attributes. It fights for the equality of the sexes in the social, political and economical belief. It denies to withstand the mistreatings and maltreatments with them. It denies to accept violence and unfair means they face regularly.

It works towards equality, not female superiority. It has nothing to do with belittling men. It respects individualism and personal choices. Feminism doesn't wish to have power over men but over themselves. It asks to grant access with whom to conduct their sexual life and respect their autonomy and decisions. They deal with different types of discrimination and negotiate the partiality. They are paid less, judged on their complexion, identify, religion, attire etc.

Women are more liberal and are in better condition than before. But crimes are unstoppable. 'No one should be able to do crime and no one must tolerate a crime' should be the motto. There must be no inferiority or superiority complex but equality. Incivility towards a woman must be unacceptable and not approachable. Though there have been great strides towards equality, women and men are far from playing on the same field.

Detail study of feminism

Crime against women : a common story

Women in today's world has created a distinct place for herself. The Vedas and the epics have always upheld the equality of men and women. But during the medieval period, the position of women deteriorated. The dowry system, accepting the confinement, Sati and purdah system in India have downgraded women.  But after women raised their voices, crimes against women have taken varied forms. These include female fortitude, dowry death, eve-teasing, molestation, abuse at workplace, domestic violence and rape.

The World Health Organization(WHO) has prepared a 'World Report Violence and Health'(WRVH)  which has appalling results. The studies on the women victims of violence in developed countries are alarming. Nearly 22% of women in the USA reported having physically assaulted by an intimate partner or beaten at least once. In a national survey, 14.8% of women over 17 years age reported having been raped in their lifetime. About 45,000 - 50,000 women and girl are trafficked annually to the USA. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) registera a case of cruelty by husbands and relatives every 9 minutes. The crime graph against women has been going up every year.

Violence and harassments against women has tacit approval of society all over the world. Crimes against women stem from the fact that men cannot even today accept them as their equal. They are not ready to accept the fact that women can earn more, respect and social eminence than them. Actually atrocities on women have their roots, to some extent, in their weaker social position. Women are perceived as the weaker sex, depended on men economically, socially and otherwise. If she is uneducated and unskilled, a woman seldom has any choice but to bear all the atrocities. They were pushed to the background. Gradually as the era progressed, they were forced to live without identity and individuality. They had to face evil practices, viz., sati, child marriage, ban on widow remarriage etc.

Women have rights and laws existing right in front of them. But from the social point of view, we need to change our attitude towards women. A woman has been raped is always the topic of discussion. Our society ostracizes a woman who is rapes. But the rapists are assured to lead a normal life. The legal provisions provide a number of loopholes for the culprits. Even the women violence cases are not handled diligently by the investigating agencies. Morally a girl has to face humiliating questions in the court and her past is considered for judgement.

In 2011, NCRB release a report showing that women victimization has increased by 79% since 1971. Domestic violence, where a woman is subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment like abusive torments, beating violently, burning, murder, threat is a common story in almost every major country. According to a survey in India two in five married women(37%) have experienced sexual assaults at the hands of their husbands and in-laws. Although the proportion has declined to 7% today, it still means there are crores facing violence. Women are sometimes harassed in offices, public places, during travel etc. Unfortunately most of the case go unnoticed as nobody bothers to complain.

The large number of domestication of women has turned them into home maids and child bearing machines. Though today women are largely self-reliant but that doesn't change the scenario against crime faced by the women. The Government of India has taken important steps to bring about changes in the social condition of women by adding legal rights and laws. Hindu Code Bill(1956), Hindu Succession Act, Anti Dowry Act(1961), Right to divorce etc. are some laws which provide them social security. Despite lagal safeguards the violence against Indian women has increased.

Adding new laws have never solved any of our problem. We need a social awakening which has to be brought by the people themselves. Now the Domestic Violence Act has a positive and progressive step towards a more egalitarian and modern society. It promises to give women-wives, mothers, sisters, daughter-in-law, daughters and even adopted daughters protection against physical, verbal and sexual abuse and the right to shelter and economic freedom. We should join hands to raise a woman. The media should aware people about laws and police must be ready to cooperate. I hope in future, the crimes against women would decrease greatly and would finally disappear.

Second wave feminism : A massive step on domestic violence and abusive torment.

The second wave feminism actualized in the 1960s and continued into the 90s. In this phase a large number of women rose consciously and marched forward in the support of the movement. Moreover the minority women groups took their poise showing a massive response to the wave reaping it to be successful. The New Left was on the rise and much of the energy was focused on passing the Equal Rights Amendment guaranteeing social equality regardless of gender.

The principal issues of this shift were mostly about the sexuality, equality, reproductive rights and domestic violence. The phase began with protest against the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City in 1968-1969. Feminists parodied what they held to be a degrading "cattle parade" that reduced women to objects of beauty dominated by a patriarchy that sought to keep them in the home or in dull, low paying jobs.

The second wave feminism found predominant voice so it seek to aim at so many other movements, it was easily marginalized and viewed as less pressing. Many feminists took powerful places hired in the society and advocated for their place in the sun. The second wave increasingly theoretical, based on a fusion of neo-Marxism and psycho-analytical theory and began to associate the subjugation of women with broader critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, normative heterosexuality and the women's role as wife and mother. Many of the goals of the second wave feminism were met: more women in positions of leadership in higher education, business and politics, abortion rights, dowry acts, more expression and acceptance of female sexuality, general public awareness of the concept of and need for the "rights of women"(though never fully achieved) etc.

The wave spreaded quickly across the Western world, with an aim to increase equality for women by gaining more than just enfranchisement. It was the first major step in the history that brought women's concern and their sufferings to the limelight of the universe and even discussed in the forums to settle and decode their existence. It drew the attention of the world by drawing spotlight to the issues of domestic violence and marital rape, engendered rape-crisis centers and women's shelters and brought about changes in custody laws and divorce law. Harassments, domestic violence and torments was a natural scenario then and even now. They highlighted the problem and brought effectiveness in the laws meant for women. They tried to repeat the respect and place of women that were earlier mentioned in Holy Books and Manuscripts. They motivated women to drag themselves out of the harassing environment so that they can empower themselves.

Moreover the black feminists stood up for their existence swinging between the crisis of racism and sexism. They were the most vulnerable groups who brutally suffered at the hands of the whites and their males. The relationship of feminism to African-American women always postered great challenges. Such issues about racism, sexism and harassments were addressed by black feminists including Michele Wallace, Bell Hooks, Alice Walker and Betina Aptheker. They unified with white feminists for unity as they faced the common oppression except their skin color.

Due to strong stance against physical violence and sexual assault in both the home and workplace, many legal provisions, laws, rights and major steps were amended. In 1968, NOW (National Organization for Women) successfully lobbied the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to pass an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevented discrimination based on sex in the workplace. This prompted women to right to report their bosses and co-workers for acts of sexual assault. These brave movements by the second wave feminists whispered the magical energy all over the world in some amount to take kingly steps and feel encouraged to use their rights on assaults and harassments.

Domestic Violence, such as battery and rape were rampant in post-war America. Women were often abused as a result of daily frustration in their husband's lives and as late as 1975 batter and rape were both socially acceptable and legal as women were seen to be the possessions of their husbands. This was even legally accepted by the society and the misdoings on women increased randomly. Because of the activists in the feminist movement and the local law enforcement agencies that they worked with, by 1982, 300 shelters and 48 state coalitions had been established to provide protection and services for women who had been abused by the male figures in their lives. Due to massive step on domestic violence and torments today many parts in the world reconciled with the strategies of feministic movements to open the door way of their freedom.

Subject matter of feminism

Feminism in 'Purple Hibiscus'

"Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie" the author of the book is a Nigerian writer whose works range from novels to short stories to non-fiction. She is one of the critically acclaimed young anglophone authors who is attracting  larger masses to African literature. She writes primarily on women of African society and Interpretes their struggles through her works. Her notable works are 'Purple Hibiscus',  'Half of a yellow sun', 'The thing around your neck' and 'We all should be feminists'. She is a topnotch wordsmith who approaches on feminism and sisterhood relatively in her every book and substantially expands the width of feminism.

'Purple Hibiscus' is an exquisite novel about the emotional turmoil of adolescence, the powerful bonds and a life beyond the authority. It was published in the year 2003. It shows the limits of women and patriarchal rule in the Nigerian society. 'Kambili' the protagonist is a fifteen year old girl whose world is defined by the high walls of her family estate. 'Mama' and 'Aunty Ifeoma' are two other female protagonists who approached feminism in the either way. Mama was severely beaten and regulated by schedules made by her fanatically religious husband.

When Nigeria was shaken by a military coup, Kambili lives with Ifeoma for a few days where she learns about life and love and a terrible, bruising secret deep within her family.

'Adichie' has drawn the feminist work in the character of 'Mama'(Beatrice Achike), Aunty Ifeoma and the story teller 'Kambili Achike'.  She portrayed the dehumanizing tendencies of the menfolk who are hostile and barbaric to their women. The case here compares African concept of 'Good women' and 'Real women' through the characters of  Mama and Ifeoma respectively. She gains attention on women who cares for the respect of their families, stick by their abusive husbands and lead a loveless marriage to be a good woman and how by the change in time they start protesting the violence and rebel against them.

The first line of the book starts with "Things started to fall apart when my brother Jaja, didn't go to the communion and Papa flung his heavy missal across the room and broke the figurines on the eatgere".

The starting line itself shows the kind of father Kambili and Jaja posits. 'Eugene Achike'(Papa) is a fanatically religious man and an ardent Christian who doesn't reflect Christianity at home. He hits roughly and mercilessly when anyone commits a mistake. He broke the figurines which were dearest to Mama(Beatrice Achike). She couldn't react to this as if it doesn't matter. She cleans it every time her husband beats her. The last time was two weeks ago when she witnessed her Mama's eyes were swollen like an overripe Avacado. This is a deliberate attempt by author to show the breaking of the figurines as a way to stand up and fight for her claims and rights.

Usually Mama gets meanly beaten by Papa no matter what and she hides it from her children when they knew it. It was the African concept that made her more pathetic claiming her as a good woman by accepting the ill treatment from her husband. In African literature it is a taboo to be a divorcee. It was manipulated into her mind that good woman is the one who "suffers the effects of oppression and negligence and who must maintain a silence and passivity" in order to remain good. She is a torso of good woman who tolerates humiliation, sticks to her husband in the loveless marriage and protect his image.

Kambili and Jaja both are strictly regulated by the rules made by their father. Their schedules included sleep, study, eat and prayer. No fun was a part of their life. In the society, Papa was regarded as a spiritual and generous person but at home he was not less than a monster. He mastered everyone at home by violence and possessed himself a lot superior. Papa never allowed his wife to take her own decisions. A male in the family was next to god and his all decisions are bound to be obeyed which was faced by everyone in Achike family.

"We cleaned up the trickle of blood, which trailed away as if someone had carried a leaking jar of red water color all the way downstairs. Jaja scrubbed while I wiped. Mama didn't come home that night, and Jaja and I had dinner alone. We didn't talk about Mama".

It tells that Eugene was again violent on his wife. He had hit her more harshly this time. Even during her pregnancy she was not taken care by her husband was coldly beaten like an animal leading to another miscarriage. There was blood everywhere due to miscarriage done by bestiality. He went to an extent of killing an unborn child which is against humanity and divine worship. After such insanity she didn't want to badmouth about her husband but instead she thought it as a privilege to be married to Eugene Achike.

In contrast, Aunty Ifeoma is totally different from Beatrice. She is considered as a real woman who thinks not to be domesticated by anyone. She has her own will and a free spirit. She is a radical feminists who has radical reaction against violence and torments. She  fights back against the wrongdoings and stands up for her rights whatever may be the consequences. She refused to be quiet like other tortured women. She is not afraid of losing her job and plans to establish a society where womanhood will be respected. She is a strong minded unlike Mama(Beatrice).

Kambili was inspired and aroused by the mindset of Aunty Ifeoma. She thought of her of her mother who was not a bit akin to Ifeoma. Kambili thought her mother enjoys being chained and violated. While staying with her aunty she discovered a world beyond authority and power of her father. She understood the meaning of freedom , life and love. She enjoyed the maximum liberation till her Mama arrived at Aunty Ifeoma's house unexpectedly. She was looking like a lifeless human who got beaten again by her husband continously leading to another miscarriage. Beside the cold treatment she is glued to her husband and always puts a good word for him in front of everyone. Children were aware of who their father is and his style of dictating for everyone even at their own detriment.

Ifeoma was a person who never considered the African concept of good woman and chose to be a real woman unlike Beatrice. She was so shocked when Beatrice favored Eugene for violence. Kambili was depressed and doubted her mother would take a stand. Their life was so regimented by their father's presence and they talk in whispers when he is around. Their life was in a proper mess due to her father's domination.

When life has made her face so much tyranny, Beatrice is not going to stay calm. She made up her mind to a new leave and now can crush anything she wants. She has endured so much that she wants to end it now. Too much of gulping misdoings led her to poison her own husband. She took the step of a strong woman like Ifeoma and cherished her own path of liberation. A life she wants to live and deserves to live. She notioned into radical feminism as an answer to radical violence. And then Kambili thought to end the book happily by saying that they will plant orange trees and purple hibiscus in the orchid. The 'Purple Hibiscus' is a sign of newly shoved freedom that has started blooming and will be planted by them.

Adichie presented two different types of women :  good and real woman in the form of Mama and Ifeoma. When Mama was a liberal feminist at the beginning of the novel, Ifeoma was purely radical who doesn't bother about the consequences to take her stand. When Mama knew her life at risk she damned the consequences and went radical. But at point it is Crystal clear that feminism is a powerful tool to save victimized woman. Feminism is needed and must have a strong point. Mama's radical way of ending her husband's life was brought by his overpowering and violent actions which she brought to an end by poisoning the tea.

Feminism in fire on the mountain

'Anita Desai' the author of the book 'Fire on the Mountain' is a leading pioneer of the writers who have sculpted a slot for Indian fiction in English. She is a professor by profession at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978 for her novel 'Fire on the Mountain'. She was even shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times. Her notable works are 'Cry,  The Peacock',  'Bye bye blackbird', 'In custody', 'Clear light of Day' etc. Her writings portrays the visual images and has a intensified mood. She bridges the gap in her writings plotted mostly in Indian scenario probing the emotional lives of people struggling to find their stability and the meaning of true existence.

'Fire on the mountain is an award winning book in the year 1977. It was both criticized and praise akin by the wordsmiths. It is a novel about three women who are in utter maze of isolation. Nanda,  Raka and Ila Das are the protagonist who portrays the inner turmoil and the position of women in the society. Their wounds started to uncover when they came in contact with each other. The central characters are the victims of norms scripted by society. They search for their lost identity and their own self in the male-dominated society. The story reveals the wretched lives of women characters and how they started to unite themselves against patriarchal rule.

All the 3 women undergo a conflict within own self because of the pathogenic environment they live. The lives of the three major female characters 'Nanda', 'Raka', and 'Ila Das' are interlinked and twisted. They all endured harsh hardships and confined in the realms of patriarchal rule. They all have stories of dominance and deep wounds whose scars are not removable. Those are wounded to bleed deeply forever.

Nanda Kaul, the main protagonist is an old lady and the wife of a former vice-chancellor of a school who is now staying high up in the mountains in search of tranquility. She is usually quiet and doesn't like much interference in her life. She decided to reside in nature and isolate herself from society. She is the exact portrayal of an ordinary woman seen in most of the Indian households. She was tired from her old phase of life being a wife to a stern husband and taking care of the children. She was required to perform multiple duties and hated  for being so much responsible. Her husband was rude to her and he never loved Nanda. She was into a loveless marriage but not a childless marriage. She always used to obey her husband and couldn't get much time for herself. She lived like a woman which society wants and never wished to live on her own wishes. This shows the position of a woman in the society. Being a wife to a reputed husband never gave her happiness and satisfaction. It shows male power  and how a woman was meant for menial jobs and taking care of children.

She never questioned her husband and decided to go on with a lifeless life. Her husband carried on a life long affair with Miss David. All she experienced was loneliness and negligence. She never witnessed the taste of love and when her great granddaughter 'Raka' came to stay with her she  couldn't show her love and affection. She lived a mechanical life devoid of emotions. She was a decorative piece to keep her husband's house attractive and maintain his reputation in social circles. She had woven all her lies in front of Raka as a delusion to justify her existence. She was not happy with her life and it gave her immense pain thinking of her old memories. Residing in Carignano was the last option she had, not a choice.

'Raka' the great granddaughter of Nanda was a sickly child who never met her. She loves to explore the mountains,  rocks and nature. She doesn't like to talk much and couldn't get well enough with Nanda. She has isolated herself from the people and society at a small age. She is not comfortable in the warmth of relations and with the company of somebody else.

As the story reveals the parts it seems she couldn't trust anyone to get involved with. This kind of situation seems to occur at her mother 'Tara' was in an abusive marriage. Her father abuses her mother both physically and mentally. She usually saw her mother passing through mental breakdown. When she peers inside a club ballroom she hallucinates the visions of her father hurting her mother which traumatized her deeply. This made her stay away from people and roam wildly on the mountains.

'Domestic violence usually in a family upsets children the most. They stop interacting and couldn't open up with people. They think to stay away from folks distanting themselves leading to isolation and depression.

'Ila Das' the other lead female character is a former and college friend of Nanda, similar in age. She has high-pitched tone and seems to be mocked by the school boys for her attire during her entry in the novel to Nanda's house. The scenario here defines the society led by men. The young boys at school to whom Ila is much older indicates utter disrespect by mocking her. This defines how a world is already build up on male shoulders.

Ila belonged to a rich family by birth. But her fortune was squandered by her brothers. Nothing was for her neither for her sister. She has to work really hard to meet her ends. She has alot of self respect and denies to take free shelter. Usually, the sons divide the property and leave nothing for the daughters. As it was considered that girls are not capable to handle wealth and they are not meant for the property of the house but for the chores of the house.

Ila seems to be strong willed enough to protest a child marriage. She stopped another child bride to be abused. But to her this act the father of the child bride 'Pretty Singh' reacted like a beast and attacked Ila in a cold night when she was returning to her ramshackle hut. He strangled her, tore her clothes and raped her. The forceful interaction was aggressive and led her to be murdered.

Females were considered to be weak by birth in the Indian society. Male superiority possessed them to do anything kind of criminal activities they like to do and not get exposed. Rape is like a run-of-the-mill.

And therefore  to this unfairness and rude inequality 'Raka' decides to set the forest on fire symbolizing her rejection and destruction of this darker side of men and the ban of rape like activities of woman like Ila Das. It justifies the need of the destruction. It is the brutal rape and murder of the Ila Das,  Tara being hurt physically and mentally and  Nanda's whole life was a lie was prior to Raka's action.

The fire on the mountain depicts the inner turmoil of Nanda's life and the urgent need of revolution and rebellion against the patriarchal walls of society. It intensifies the need of women to rebel. It promotes women are not weaker sex and can destroy everything they want. If they can give their everything then they also know how to take back everything. The fire was the symbol of feminine power which has already started to burn among the women in every society irrespective of their age bar and other social differences. Women are compared to mountains here. They are huge, calm and with shining plains with a fire inside. It is the fire that has been burning coldly suppressed under the heavy burdens ascribed upon her.

Conclusion

In both the novel 'Purple Hibiscus'  and 'Fire on the mountain' women upsurged against the violence and injustice they tolerated. It was littered to them since birth to keep a man happy and never disobey them. Our society should have taught women differently and equally as men. They should be abused by the equal and uniform rules. The female protagonists of both the novels sustained and brooked a lot of physical and mental torments. They tried to mirror the norms society taught but realized that it risks their life and womanhood. Their existence doesn't create a slight difference in the lives of men.

'Mama (Beatrice Achike) the female protagonist of 'Purple Hibiscus' was an embodiment of good women who engulfs all tortures and merciless beatings till it resulted in miscarriages. She was at the start a liberal feminist but turned into radical at the end because of the piteous life she suffered. She killed her spouse by poisoning his tea and freed herself. Circumstances preached her to end the torments in a radical way.

In contrast, in the novel 'Fire on the mountain' a major female character Ila Das loses her life due to the victimization of rape and murder. Nanda and Raka who have isolated themselves from the society and decided not to get involved with folks was from the trauma they got from their past and hopeless lives. The taste of bitterness in their life was so much that they thought themselves to not get any warmth of relationships. To all this injustices and results of the male dominance Raka sets the forest on fire to show how devastating a woman could be. They are not allowed to tolerate every sip of crimes and discrimination. She is calm but fierce. She is huge, strong and great as mountain. She can be equally hot and alarming as fire which can burn down everything a man has.

Feminism in modern novel

Feminism in modern novel is like a magical spell casted out by the feminist writers. They should be ventilated more to express their beliefs and inspire a lot of oppressed women. They should be declared to aware women through their healing and uplifting stories. Because they know well how heartbreaking it is to see people get discriminated against because of something as simple as their gender. Gender ideologies should be expressed more.

Many modern female writers like Anita Desai, Toni Morrison, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Naomi Wolf, Margaret Atwood etc. are the powerful feminist writers who have provoked change in the social attire and better conditioning towards women. They intended to challenge the principles of the society and demanded the equal equation for women. They heightened the women experiences of violence and maltreatments. With highlighting the cause of women's oppression, they even explained the way to eradicate it from its roots. Modern novels which portrayed feminism are basically challenging and questioning the society. Inspite of all the problems and zillions of questions they want to refine the core of society for betterment of women.

Modern issues of feminism in modern feminists novel must be drawn but not by belittling men. The scope of feminism must be taught eminently and the issues must be highlighted. In every corner of the world female writers publish their kind of writings in their native language which must be promoted in their region. Though feminism in modern novels is a great relief for the society that helps to reconstruct the base by strengthening womanhood. Feminism is a broader concept now and tends to expand more. The writers should also cope up and aware the society with substantial data.

Feminism to be continued

Feminism is the fire that has already set up in the minds of millions. As both the novel's protagonists raged out of the high walls built by men similarly all the women in the world would be a protagonist of their own story. Though it was late to protest but finally they got the nerve and succeeded to some extent. Feminism is already expanding and not going to stop till all women are declared as safe everywhere irrespective of their caste, race, religion and age. 'As long as she thinks of a man, nobody objects to a woman thinking'. They are all the victims of the norms scripted upon them forcefully.

I believe no woman should tolerate domestic violence may be physically or mentally. A statistic report on domestic violence in India as per the year 2005:2018 is 34%:27%. The propaganda must be 0% tolerance to domestic violence and any form of harassment. In many years it is clear that women are always the victims of all wrongdoings in the world. Usually the ratio of harassment has been decreasing randomly but still we cannot conclude 'Women are safe today'.

Feminism can upsurge the potentiality to bow down a sick mentality. When feminism uplift a feeble and mediocre women to brave and intense it frightens an extremist. I predict that women are still a point of concern in the near future. And if women are a point of concern then 'Feminism' is a must tool for females to rely upon in any form and approach for it in the coming days.

                                                                                                     ~Aparna Parija