ACT OF DEFIANCE: STUDY OF PASSIONATE QUEST FOR GENDER IDENTITY IN BUCHI EMECHETA’S SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN AND MEENA KANDASAMY’S WHEN I HIT YOU

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the Act of Defiance, Gender Identity, several other issues and challenge faced by characters portrayed in the novels of Buchi Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen and Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit you.  Woman is born free as man but becomes subordinate sex ‘the other’ with overburden of societal rule and regulation. This is changing as women now do not conform but rebel. The quest for identity exhibits a basic human need. Most women around the world struggle with identity and confidence issues at some point in their lifespan. Struggle is not confined to certain era or generation, but she has been struggling for Age.  The paper deal with the issue of defiance of the protagonists, their struggle for gender identity against social norms constructed to demolish equality status of women in patriarchy in society and family. Also, study role of education in their struggle for equality.