Gender and Politics in English‐Language Autobiographies of Two Twentieth‐Century South Asian Muslim Women Writers

Abstract

The marginalisation of Muslim women writers is evident in South Asian literary studies. They are often portrayed as hopelessly imprisoned in a patriarchal world, and their religion is usually deemed to have pushed them outside the pale of public life. Since English in South Asia is associated with modernity, progress and upward mobility and Muslim women with its opposite, their literary practices in the language may seem oxymoronic. Jahanara Shahnawaz and Shaista Ikramullah thrived in politics and wrote in English, which interrogates the tendency of neglecting and misrepresenting South Asian Muslim women in literary discussion and depicting their male counterparts as gender oppressors. Given their class background, privileged upbringing and ability to contribute to society, the critical framework of intersectionality is pertinent when investigating their personal narratives and lived experiences. Premised upon this understanding, this essay aims to examine among others the role of Muslim men in enabling Muslim women's (English) education and public engagement, as illustrated in the English‐language autobiographies of Jahanara and Shaista—two politically and culturally active twentieth‐century South Asian Muslim women writers.