Double marginalization of female in Pat Barker’s Union Street

Abstract

In the novel,Union Street, Barker reflects 70s and 80s life of England. Her selection of seven female characters and their situation encircled the novel touches the issue of double marginalization of female: patriarchy and capitalism. Barker observes the life of poor women as Kelly Brown, Joanna Wilson,Lisa Goddard MurielScaife, Irish King, Alice Bell and Blonde Dinah, who havebeen living near the factory area, north-east England and get involved in the street workfor their survival. They are abused and humiliated from males although the females challenge the patriarchal and capitalist society.They livein extreme poverty although they feel happy with day to day activities and areready to share everything which comes before theirlife.They can save the 'soul by selling the body'. Livingin street at night and involving in prostitution is the destiny of such poor women.Barker raises the issues of freedom and poverty once at a time which gives us the tone of Marxist feminism.In short,the novel depicts not only patriarchy cum domination overpoor women but also valorizes their resistance against patriarchy and capitalism.