Dismantling the Established Matrix of Power in Matrimony: A Study of Feminine Power and Subversion in My Feudal Lord

Abstract

This research aims to highlight the phenomenon of dismantling power dynamics in matrimonial relationships and how Pakistani women are exerting their feminine power to subvert the patriarchal system. Power and oppression are inseparable and play significant roles in shaping individuals’ lives and lived experiences. The findings of this study highlight that Durrani’s work has explored the dual standards of the society where patriarchal control over the marriage institution is stronger than that of women, where women always pay a huge toll for making their marriages a success. This study analyzes Tehmina Durrani’s memoir “My Feudal Lord (1995) to determine the relationship between feminine power and the subversion of the patriarchal system by employing the theoretical contributions of Hartsock (1983) and Mohanty (1991). Hartsock’s (1983) Feminist Standpoint Theory advocates obtaining women situated knowledge owing to their privileged marginalized place in society for better understanding because they have objective and unbiased knowledge, while Mohanty’s (1991) Postcolonial Feminist perspective stands for the voice of postcolonial marginalized women.