Gender Stereotyping in
Imayam’s Pethavan
Pavithra S
ABSTRACT
Imayam’s Pethavan is a powerful narrative that
exposes the intersection of caste and gender oppression. The text
demonstrates how caste functions as a tool to subjugate individuals,
particularly women, within rigid social hierarchies. This study
employs a radical feminist framework to examine how deeply rooted
patriarchal structures operate through caste-based social norms. By
analysing the characters and their lived experiences, the paper
highlights how patriarchal authority regulates even the most
intimate human relationships. Ultimately, the novella reveals how
honour, caste identity, and social surveillance combine to sustain
systemic oppression and silence resistance.
This study employs a radical feminist lens to analyze the ways in
which patriarchal power operates within caste-based social systems.
It investigates how control is exercised not only through explicit
acts of violence but also through less visible processes such as
internalized subordination, fear, and social conditioning. The
experiences of the characters highlight the emotional and
psychological strain created by these overlapping structures, where
individual wishes are often sacrificed in order to uphold collective
notions of honor. The novella further emphasizes the role of the
community in maintaining conformity, where any departure from
accepted norms leads to punishment, exclusion, or even violence.
In addition, Pethavan brings attention to the silencing of
resistance, illustrating how individuals, particularly women are
denied opportunities to express dissent. By portraying the lived
realities of marginalized groups, the text questions the acceptance
of caste and gender inequalities as normal. It ultimately urges a
critical reassessment of the social values and institutional
frameworks that perpetuate such oppression. This paper contends that
Imayam’s work stands as a strong critique of deeply rooted
hierarchies, offering valuable insights into the complex interplay
of power, identity, and resistance in contemporary society.
Key words: Radical Feminism, Caste, Patriarchy.
