Gender and Sexuality 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.

Keywords: Identity, lesbian, trans bodies, body image, intersectionality

Biography

Dr. Neha Kumari is an Assistant Professor at Sri Balaji University, Pune, India. She has completed her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, availing MHRD (JRF & SRF) Fellowship. She has published her articles in reputed journals and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Q1. Dr. Neha is the editor of Fat Studies Journal, Taylor & Francis Indexed in Q1. She is an academic editor of the Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities and an editorial board member of the Indian Journal of Health, Sexuality, and Culture.  She is a member of the Development Studies Association, UK for research.  She has a passion for creative writing and has published a poetry named My Identity and a short story titled My Journey Through Thorns. Her areas of interest include Gender and Sexuality Studies, Transgender Studies, Cultural Studies, and Women's Studies and Communication.