FEMINIST ASPECTS IN SHASHI DESHPANDE’S THAT LONG SILENCE (Pages 101-108) by Mrs. Hemamalini in THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST / ISSN: 2350-1499 (Online); 2350-0751 (Print)

The term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women’s rights and interests. Feminist activities have campaigned for women’s legal rights; for women’s right to bodily integrity and autonomy, for abortion rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of discrimination. Shashi Deshpande is one of the renowned authors who infuse her own views, as being those of her heroines. The central stage is occupied by the woman and hence the narration is significantly lifted through her feminist consciousness. She projects woman in a normal man-woman world rather than in a man’s world exclusively. She recognizes the accustomed variables of the society when both men and women contribute to the plight of women. This paper explores the feministic aspects in Shashi Deshpande’s most popular novel, That Long Silence.he term feminism can be used to describe a political, cultural or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that advocates gender equality for women and campaigns for women’s rights and interests. Feminist activities have campaigned for women’s legal rights; for women’s right to bodily integrity and autonomy, for abortion rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of discrimination. Shashi Deshpande is one of the renowned authors who infuse her own views, as being those of her heroines. The central stage is occupied by the woman and hence the narration is significantly lifted through her feminist consciousness. She projects woman in a normal man-woman world rather than in a man’s world exclusively. She recognizes the accustomed variables of the society when both men and women contribute to the plight of women. This paper explores the feministic aspects in Shashi Deshpande’s most popular novel, That Long Silence.Keywords: Feminism, Self-expression, Conflict, Individuality