A Feminist Reading of Oppression in A Thousand Splendid Suns

Abstract

Afghani literature has become a significant site for scholarly inquiry into gender inequality, particularly in relation to the systemic marginalization of women within traditional and underdeveloped societies. Researchers have consistently highlighted how patriarchal norms shape and constrain the lives of women, often through institutionalized practices and cultural expectations. This dissertation seeks to examine the lived experiences of a representative Afghan girl as portrayed in literary narratives, focusing on the mechanisms of social control embedded in gendered hierarchies. The depiction of male characters such as Jalil, Rasheed, and Tariq, and their interactions with female characters like Nana, Laila, and Mariam, reveals a stratified social order in which authority is exercised to maintain dominance over women. According to recent data from UN Women, Afghanistan ranks among the lowest globally in gender equality, with women accessing only 17% of their potential across key domains such as education, health, and political participation. The 2024 ban on secondary education for girls and the exclusion of women from decision-making bodies further illustrate the entrenched nature of gender-based discrimination. These literary representations, therefore, not only reflect the realities of Afghan society but also underscore the broader challenges facing efforts toward social justice and gender reform, suggesting that current discourse is merely beginning to address the depth of the issue