From Silence to Resistance: Examining Intersectional Marginalization in Beloved and Colour Purple
Samina Khaliq Butt
Assistant Professor, Department of English, Government Islamia Graduate College, Railway Road Lahore
Mahnoor Ghani Sheikh
Department of English, University of Gujrat. Pakistan
Dr. Mudasar Jahan
Associate Lecturer, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Pakistan
Abstract
This qualitative research study examines the intersectional politics of marginalization in Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," aiming to explore how Black women's experiences are shaped by intersecting forces of marginalization. Guided by a qualitative research approach and thematic analysis, the study employs Black Feminist Thought (BFT) framework, as postulated by Patricia Hill Collins, to analyze the novels. The results reveal powerful portrayals of Black women's intersectional experiences, challenging dominant discourses and promoting resistance and empowerment. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of Black women's complex experiences, highlighting the importance of intersectional frameworks in critiquing marginalization. With limitations including a focus on two novels and a qualitative approach, the study is delimited to exploring the selected novels' portrayal of Black women's experiences. The research is important for promoting social justice and highlighting the need for greater representation and visibility of Black women's experiences in literature, with future recommendations including further research, promoting diversity, inclusion, and greater representation of Black women's experiences.
Key Words: Intersectionality, Marginalization, Black Feminism, African American Literature, Intersectional Politics.
