Exploring Self Identity in Mohja Kahf's The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf

Abstract

This research paper examines Mojha Kahf’s The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf, with a special attention to its representation of feministic revolt. It examines how Kahf shows a female’s sense of loss, identity crisis and their attempts to fight against the patriarchal norms and values. For this, the paper uses concept of self-identity as well as feminist perspectives that how it play a significant role for breaking the stereotypes and challenges the patriarchal notions exist in the text. Paper focuses on the journey of exploring originality being Arab-American women and struggling to gain self- identity. This novel portrays how the females are under the shadow of patriarchy and are dominated by man and even by religious hierarchy. Central character Khadra revolts against the patriarchal values and proves herself as a self-dependent woman in her community. Due to the long history of patriarchal society, women were limited around their home only. They were compelled to hide themselves under the scarf due to social construction. So, to bring the issue of women suffering and explore the ideas of cultural hybridity along with quest for self-identity develops by Third wave of feminist into forefront, this paper highlight the isolated situation of women’s in the text and then analyses thoroughly. The paper explores the sociopolitical circumstances and the author’s standpoint to depict the real condition of society. My entry point is concept about female suffering and discrimination this took me to their revolt, patriarchal notion along with feminist wave and it’s far reaching consequences. Thus, my central research concern is to examine how patriarchal notion creates the misbalance society as a result the wave of resistance evolves.