Feminism in the Short Stories of Farakhanda Lodhi

فرخندہ لودھی کے افسانوں میں تانیثیت

Abstract

This study explores feminist themes in the short stories of Farakhanda Lodhi, highlighting her portrayal of women’s lived realities within a patriarchal social framework. Lodhi’s fiction presents women as sensitive yet aware individuals who experience emotional, psychological, and social pressures while striving for identity and self-respect. Through a critical reading of selected short stories, the research examines key feminist concerns such as gender discrimination, domestic confinement, emotional suppression, and the struggle for autonomy.

Farakhanda Lodhi skillfully depicts the inner conflicts of her female characters, focusing on their silence, endurance, and gradual awakening. Her narratives often revolve around everyday domestic spaces and ordinary relationships, through which deeper structures of power and inequality are revealed. Rather than presenting open rebellion, Lodhi emphasizes subtle resistance, moral strength, and inner transformation, making her feminist vision culturally rooted and socially relevant.

The study situates Lodhi’s work within the broader tradition of Urdu feminist fiction and argues that her contribution lies in her balanced and humane approach. By blending social realism with psychological depth, Farakhanda Lodhi enriches Urdu short fiction and strengthens feminist discourse. Her stories give voice to women’s suppressed experiences and highlight the need for empathy, awareness, and social change within traditional society.