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ISSN : 1226-4946(Print)
ISSN : 2288-5412(Online)
The Yeats Journal of Korea Vol.78 No. pp.1-21
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14354/yjk.2025.78.1

Chick Literature as a Feminist Genre: Analysing Patriarchy and Inequality in Bharti Kirchner’s Narratives

M. Vishnu Varathan, M. Shajahan Sait
part-time research scholar, in department of English, Jamal Mohamed College, Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, India
esearch supervisor, Associate Professor of English, Jamal Mohamed College, Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, India

Abstract

Chick literature is a potent vehicle for feminist discourse because it often emphasizes women’s emotional and professional lives. This essay examines Bharti Kirchner’s Sharmila’s Book and Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries as examples of chick fiction from the perspective of feminist struggle. The Indo-American author Kirchner challenges gender inequity and patriarchal conventions ingrained in both contemporary Western society and traditional Indian culture through her female heroes. This study examines how Sharmila and Sunya establish their identities and individuality while navigating dowry customs, professional competitiveness, and cultural expectations. Kirchner highlights the tenacity of women in overcoming sociocultural hurdles and challenges posed by repressive institutions through their hardships and victories. These stories highlight self-discovery, independence, and empowerment—all important themes in chick literature—and demonstrate how women’s roles are changing in global situations. This study argues that Kirchner’s writings represent chick literature not only as a commercial genre but also as a form of literary activism that challenges and reshapes gender relations, drawing on feminist ideas from authors such as Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan. Ultimately, this demonstrates how chick lit can lend a voice to women’s experiences and aspirations, thereby contributing to the broader feminist movement.

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