Feminist and LGBTQ+ Studies

Abstract

In India, lesbian and trans bodies are often seen as subversive and subjected to significant political control, challenging the heteronormative norms of gender and sexuality. This research explores narratives that portray the struggles and resilience of lesbian and trans women in postmillennial India, focusing on their body image, appearance, and the social control they endure. By examining literary works and autobiographies, the paper investigates how nonbinary desires and aesthetic expressions disrupt traditional gender roles and norms. It highlights the commodification of lesbian identity and the pressure to conform to heteronormative standards, as discussed by scholars like Sridevi Nair. Western critics such as Caroline Huxley and Nikki Hayfield have also observed that alternative sexualities are often policed to fit into an 'authentic' sexuality framework. Through the analysis of protagonists in Manju Kapur’s "A Married Woman" and Abha Dawesar’s "Babyji," the paper illustrates the internalization of dominant heterosexuality and its impact on body image. Additionally, autobiographical works like Living Smile Vidya's "I Am Vidya," A. Revathi's "The Truth About Me," and Manobi Bandyopadhyay's "A Gift of Goddess Laxmi" offer insights into the lived experiences of trans women navigating their identities in a restrictive cultural setting. This study emphasizes the intersectionality of sex, body image, gender behavior, and desire, showing how lesbian and trans women shape their identities amidst societal pressures, thereby enhancing the understanding of gender and sexuality in contemporary India.

Biography

Dr. Neha Kumari is an Assistant Professor at Sri Balaji University Pune, India. She has completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, India, availing MHRD (JRF & SRF) Fellowship. She is a dedicated researcher, editor, and academic contributor in the fields of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Fat Studies, Film Studies, Transgender Studies, Cultural Studies, and Women's Studies and Communication. She qualified and scored AIR 2nd in IIT ISM JRF ENTRANCE EXAM under MHRD Ph.D. Fellowship Program and received MHRD fellowship. She secured 2nd rank in M.A. in English, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India. Dr. Neha received the BEST RESEARCH PAPER AWARD at the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Dialogues (ICID-2024) organized by Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University. She has published her articles in Media Watch; the others include Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Indian Journal of Health, Culture and Sexuality, and KEMANUSIAAN: The Asian Journal of Humanities. She is on the Editorial Board of Fat Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Body Weight and Society and Journal of Health, Culture and Sexuality. She has a passion for creative writing and has published a poetry named My Identity and a short story titled My Journey Through Thorns.