Exploring Gender Dynamics in Indian English Literature: Reflections of Cultural Norms, Beliefs, and Myths

Abstract

Gender dynamics are explored in Indian English literature as a profound reflection of India's complex social, cultural, and political fabric. This essay explores the complex ways that gender has been portrayed in literature throughout history and literary movements, explaining how it has changed over time from colonial influences to modern intersections with feminism, queer identities, and cultural hybridity. The study starts with an overview of the vast diversity of Indian English literature and its crucial place in the global literary discourse. It then delves into important subjects such social challenges, mythological tales, diasporic experience, and colonial/post-colonial identities. It examines how early literature—which was influenced by patriarchal and colonial norms—developed into a forum for feminist debate and the study of gender fluidity. The study sheds light on how popular writers like Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni challenge and mirror deeply ingrained myths, cultural norms, and beliefs in Indian culture through a thorough analysis of their literary works. The ultimate goal of this study is to reveal the complex ways in which gender is portrayed in Indian English literature, providing light on how it profoundly influences and subverts social norms while honoring the variety of human experiences found in Indian culture.