Intersectionality in the novel Soft Animal by Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan

This paper examines the novel Soft Animal by Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan through the lens of intersectionality. This approach reveals how overlapping identities such as gender, sexuality, class, caste, and urban living shape experiences of power, marginalization, and self-identity. Madhavan’s story, centered on modern Indian womanhood, portrays characters grappling with intimate relationships, bodily autonomy, and societal expectations while also navigating systems of patriarchy and urban alienation. The study highlights how intersectional elements heighten the characters’ struggles with desire, vulnerability, and resistance, exposing the complex oppressions women face in changing socio-cultural contexts. By situating the novel within feminist literary discussions, the paper suggests that Soft Animal not only challenges traditional portrayals of Indian femininity but also redefines agency as an ongoing negotiation of intersecting identities. The research contributes to ongoing debates about gendered subjectivity in Indian English fiction, demonstrating how Madhavan’s work captures the intricacies of intersectionality in literature.