Subordination, Tradition, and Empowerment in Nadia Hashimi’s 'The Pearl That Broke Its Shell'

Abstract

Society places women in an inferior position, which leads to their subordination. This phenomenon arises because of the widespread presence of a patriarchal system in a particular country. The patriarchal system enables men to exert dominance over women, spanning from educational institutions to professional environments. This condition restricts and regulates women's actions. The author conducted an analysis of the phenomenon of female subordination in Nadia Hashimi's work, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. The tale emphasizes the subordinate position of Afghan women in society. In addition, women engage in a cultural practice called Bacha Posh to achieve gender equality with men. Nevertheless, this custom fails to elevate the social standing of women, as it necessitates them to assume male identities in order to avail themselves of the same chances as men. The author utilized a qualitative approach to analyze the data, taking into account its textual format and the vocal depiction of the result. This study employed a feminist methodology. The researcher examines and elucidates the character's speech and storytelling by the narrator, which signifies the presence of gender-based subjugation, female camaraderie, and female empowerment. The findings demonstrated Rahima's effective utilization of her authority to terminate the discriminatory subjugation she encountered based on gender.