The construction of gender identity in Manju Kapur's Difficult Daughters and Home

Manju Kapur, a renowned Indian English novelist and feminist, has explored the complexities of Indian patriarchy and the women's experience within it. This article examines the construction of gender identity in Manju Kapur's novels Difficult Daughters (1988) and Home (2006), from a feminist perspective. These two novels offer the life-experiences of the protagonists Virmati and Nisha as they cope with the complexities of patriarchal expectations and stereotypes in India. The novels throw light on the hidden traps in societal expectations, cultural norms, gender-based oppression, limiting women's autonomy in the family – structure etc. This study argues that Kapur’s novels offer a powerful critique of patriarchal double - speak. In Difficult Daughters, we see Virmati’s struggle for autonomy and self – expression, braving the societal pressures. Similarly, in Home, Nisha’s quest for independence and financial security are seen floundering on others in the family expectations. Through these characters, Kapur sheds light on the complex relationship between women and the societal norms that govern their lives.