THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN AND RESISTANCE: AN EXAMINATION OF TEHMINA DURRANI'S BLASPHEMY (1998)

Abstract

This research examines the evolving representation of women and resistance in Tehmina Durrani's controversial novel Blasphemy (1998), analyzing how the narrative challenges patriarchal structures within Pakistani society through the protagonist Heer's journey from victimhood to agency. Drawing on feminist literary criticism and postcolonial theory, this study examines the intersection of gender, religion, and power dynamics in contemporary South Asian literature. Through close textual analysis, the research demonstrates how Durrani's work subverts traditional gender norms and exposes the mechanisms of religious oppression that silence women's voices. The findings reveal that Blasphemy serves as a powerful critique of institutionalized misogyny disguised as religious piety, while simultaneously documenting women's capacity for resistance despite systemic constraints. This study contributes to the growing body of scholarship on Pakistani women's literature and offers insights into how fictional narratives can challenge entrenched social hierarchies. The research employs qualitative content analysis to examine key themes of female subjugation, religious hypocrisy, and transformative resistance, concluding that Durrani's novel represents a significant literary intervention in debates about women's rights and religious authority in Pakistan.