A Post-apocalyptic Study of Gendered Space in Bina Shah’s Before She Sleeps

Abstract

Women’s historical struggle against gender-based discrimination and subjugation has been marked by their resilience and determination to get freedom from oppressive norms. This study delimits Bina Shah's Before She Sleeps to examine the issue of gender discrimination. This novel portrays how government-imposed regulations subject women to unjust treatment, force them into polygamous marriages, and compel them to bear numerous children. Employing qualitative research methods, this study analyzes various components of the selected novel, including characters, settings, power dynamics of discourses, and contextualization of gender discrimination in a patriarchal system. Through a combination of descriptive analysis techniques and an extensive review of relevant literature, this research uncovers the multifaceted struggles for gender equality and women's empowerment, and hence, contributes to politically influenced gender disparities.