BLOWING ON THE WOUND: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON NON-FICTION LITERARY GENRE; A MEMOIR, I AM MALALA (2013)
BLOWING ON THE WOUND: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON NON-FICTION LITERARY GENRE; A MEMOIR, I AM MALALA (2013)

Summary/Abstract: Memoir which is one of the most common genre in the literary field has a special place in terms of presenting historical and social facts. A memoir is not the history itself but one of the aiding tools to understand history. This particular genre primarily focuses on the events and the phenomena that leaves traces in a personal account. It sheds light on historians, researchers and to those who contribute studies on psychosocial and socio-political issues. Most importantly, it makes the facts remembered for all times. In this regard, the purpose of this particular study is to explore how memoir as a literary non-fiction genre promotes sustainable awareness of gender-based injustice against women as presented in I am Malala (2013) by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb. It is widely acknowledged that patriarchy and dominant masculine perception of gender norms have institutionalized power over women in many parts of the world. Much research on global gender-based inequalities has shed light on the particular effects and bitter consequences of applied dogmatic socio-political sanctions against women's rights. Among the most important factors for female gender role trauma can be shown as the violation of rights and freedom due to the lack of legal protection. To view how gender-based injustice is produced and justified as two critical means of power, one should highlight the domains of ideology and power dynamics. Especially in South Asia countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, government policies impose ideological constraints on women's rights. In this regard, literary analysis is an effective way to create universal awareness of the destructive effects of patriarchal hegemony, sex bias, and stereotypical labeling. As this genre suggests, the memoirs collected in the book constitute a work of high significance that reflects the effects of gender discrimination via historical events and promotes universal awareness. Thus, the study will carry out qualitative research by focusing on the published book as the main source. Supported by secondary sources, the findings of the study draw out the fact that memoir plays a pivotal role and is a powerful agent in dealing with gender-based injustice issues and a key to universalize international awareness on gender development.

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