Intersecting Shadows: Class and Gender Discrimination in Danyal Mueenuddin’s Saleema —A Postcolonial Feminist Reading

Abstract

This study examines Saleema’s character for class and gender discrimination in Danyal Mueenuddin’s short story Saleema (2009), using a postcolonial feminist framework. Set in rural Pakistan, the narrative presents the intersecting oppressions experienced by Saleema, a lower-class domestic worker whose life is shaped by structural poverty, gendered violence, and feudal hierarchies. Drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (1988), Chandra Talpade Mohanty (1991), and Kimberlé Crenshaw (1991), this analysis explores how patriarchal social norms and class stratification combine to produce the subaltern woman. The study explores the intersecting dynamics of power structures, colonial legacies, and patriarchal norms that immortalise Saleema's subjugation. Through a comprehensive examination of her relationships with other characters, setting, and themes, this paper elucidates how Saleema's experiences epitomise broader societal injustices rooted in classism and sexism. By incorporating insights from Postcolonial Feminist theory, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in Saleema's narrative, shedding light on the intersecting forms of discrimination she confronts. The paper argues that Saleema’s story exposes the systematic nature of oppression in postcolonial societies, demonstrating the necessity of reading South Asian literature through the lens of postcolonial feminist critique. This study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the intricate interplay between class, gender, and power within the socio-cultural fabric of postcolonial societies.