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The Effects of Patriarchy on a Woman, Textual Analysis

of Muhammad Hanif’s novel “Our Lady of Alice Bhatti”
(2011) with Feminist Perspectives
Akbar Jan1, Dr.Mian Shah Bacha2
1
PhD Scholar English, Qurtaba University Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan
2
Assistant Professor Head of English Department, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University SBBU Sheringal Dir
Upper, KPK,Pakistan

Email: bachamsb@gmail.com,

Revised and Accepted: 2 October 2020

ABSTRACT: Patriarchy is the system of male-dominance in the society. It gives a superior position to men and
confines women to a subordinate status. Patriarchal system imposes certain constraints on the independent
existence of women. The existing study analyzes Muhammad Hanif‟s novel “Our Lady of Alice Bhatti”(2011)
with feminist perspectives for the effects of patriarchy on women status in milieu of Pakistani society. The study
focuses on the female character, the protagonist Alice Bhatti for analyzing the adverse effects of patriarchy. The
study adopts a qualitative mode of research and uses textual analysis as a research method. Simon de Beauvoir‟s
(1952) feministic views are used as a theoretical framework for the study. The relevant works on feministic
analysis of other fictions are used as background knowledge. The research results show that patriarchy is the
major factor imposing numerous hurdles in Alice‟s way of transcendence. Alice‟s subordinate status, her being
confined to her stereotype role of domesticity and immanence, no recognition of transcendental activities,
dominance of men, patriarchal negligence, discrimination, exploitation and objectification are all shown as the
adverse effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatti. The study highlights that all other reasons of Alice‟s otherness can
somehow be overcome but patriarchy remains an adamant source of Alice‟s oppression. It cannot be defeated. It
has perpetuated Alice‟s oppression. It also shows that Alice‟s otherness is not due to her biological construction
rather it is her social construction which keeps her subjugated. The study recommends that proper education,
social development and psychological growth of women can make them capable to withstand the oppressive
patriarchal values, end patriarchal superiority and bring themselves at par with men in all walks of life.

KEYWORDS: women‟s otherness, oppression , feminism, patriarchy, Simon de Beauvoir.

I. INTRODUCTION

This study is the textual analysis of feministic perspectives of Muhammad Hanif‟s novel, “Our Lady of Alice
Bhatti”(2011). The text of the novel has been analyzed in the light of Simon de Beauvoir‟s feminist views on
Women Otherness, existentialist feminism and the effects of patriarchy on women.

The novel, “Our Lady of Alice Bhatti”(2011) consists of Twenty Nine chapters and an epilogue. It is a
representative feminist novel of Muhammad Hanif, a Pakistani writer and journalist. This is his second novel
after his first novel „A case of Exploding Mangoes‟ (2008). It vividly portrays all the ways and means through
which the women are oppressed in a Pakistani society. The novel narrates the story of Alice Bhatti, the daughter
of a Christian churrah (sweeper). She strives hard for her independent life of transcendence but the patriarchal
environment hampers her. She is kept confined to her role of immanence. Her struggles for transcendence are
regarded against the norms of patriarchal society.

The whole story of the novel exposes the terrifying effects of patriarchy in a Pakistani society where Alice
Bhatti, being a woman is victimized through various kinds of oppressions. As an example, the writer describes
the position of Alice Bhatti as, “Alice Bhatti is a battle ground under constant assault by lewd gestures,
whispered suggestions, and uninvited hands on her bottom” (Hanif, 2011, p.17). A woman is considered as an
object in the patriarchal society. She is not given any right to resist against her exploitation and oppression.
Alice is threatened with murder when she resists against her sexual harassment by an old man on her field visit
to Sargodha. The old man threatens her as, “„I‟ll cut you up and throw the pieces in that well” (Hanif, 2011, 95).

The study uses the relevant selected excerpts from the novel as collected data. The effects of patriarchy on the
Alice Bhatti are analyzed through the paradigm of deconstructive feminism in the light of Simon de Beauvoir‟s

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views on patriarchy. The study is delimited to the character of Alice Bhatti in the novel and Beauvoir‟s feminist
views of women‟s otherness.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To analyze the adverse effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatti in Pakistani society.

 To highlight the worst situations of Alice Bhatti under the exploitative patriarchal system in Pakistan.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

The current study is the textual analysis of feministic perspectives in a fiction from a Pakistani writer. There are
abundant of works on the textual analysis of various fictions from this perspective. Feminism remains a focal
point in these works which is described as a movement that supports equal rights and opportunities for both men
and women. It aims to highlight the socio-economical discrimination meted out to women in the patriarchal
society. It also confers on women the equal status with equal rights and powers. (Freeden, 1996). Chaman
Nahan (1991) elaborates that feminism is a mode of existence for a woman in which she feels free of the
dependence syndrome of husband, father, community or religious or ethnic group.

As the existing study investigates the effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatti, so it relates to the variety of radical
feminism. Jane Freedman (2002) says that the radical feminists deem men‟s control of women as the result of
the patriarchal system which is independent of all other social structures (Freedman, 2002).

There have been many feminist theorists like Marry Wollstonecraft, Virginia Woolf, Elaine Showalter, Michele
Barret and others but the theorist most relevant to the existing study is Simon de Beauvoir. She is a French
feminist and her „the Second Sex‟ (1952) provides many aspects of insight for the effects of patriarchy to be
discovered during the study. About the superiority of patriarchy, she says that masculinity or maleness is
regarded to be the absolute human type. It is considered the norm or standard of humankind. A man has not to
preface his opinion with the statement “I am a man” due to his recognized status. A woman‟s views are not
objectively valued but mostly considered as feminine (Beauvoir, 1952).

Pilar Hidalgo‟s (1991) analysis of the novel „The Edible Woman‟ shows that woman in a patriarchal society is
supposed to carry out the functions of domesticity and maternity and these functions will keep them away from
their independent existence and survival. It also throws light on the discrimination and superiority of men over
women. Marian‟s effort to revise the man-made questionnaire is remarkable against gender discrimination
(Hidalgo, 1991). It means that a woman has to confine to her role of immanence and domesticity. She is
marginalized from the mainstream social function. Alice Bhatti too has to suffer from the same kinds of
constraints.

M. Ayub Jajja (2013) in his research work, “The Representation of Women in Anita Desai‟s Novels: A Frail
Bark upon the Waters” (2013) on these novels of Anita Desai has highlighted the plight of women in the
patriarchal system. He concludes his analysis with the remarks that the women cannot think of any privacy as
long as they live in a world ruled by patriarchal values. They cannot enjoy any freedom and can have no say in
the decisions. They are to be at the subordinate position and are to be eternally sacrificed at the altar of
patriarchy (Jajja, 2013).

In “The Pakistani Bride”, Bapsi Sidhwa (1990) tells the story of two brides- Zaitoon and Carol. The main story
is prefaced with the account of another bride Afshan. She, aged fifteen is given in marriage to Qasim, a boy ten
years old in order to compensate for her father loan from Qasim‟s father. Actually, she is sold as a bargain
commodity. The dominance of husband is shown through Qasim‟s anger when Afshan join his mother in
punishing Qasim for his stubbornness. He protests and asserts his status that he is her husband. She cannot dare
doing this (Sidhwa, 1990). Here, Qasim claims his superiority being the husband. This he knows through his
bringing-up in a patriarchal environment. The same claim of male superiority is also raised by Teddy Bhut, the
husband of Alice Bhatti in the novel for the existing study.

Shaheen et al (2014) in their work “Magical Realism as a Tool for Women‟s Empowerment in Our Lady of
Alice Bhatti by Muhammad Hanif” have highlighted the role of Alice Bhatti as struggling against Pakistan‟s
misogynous patriarchy and religious majority. They have shown Alice Bhatti fighting the patriarchal hegemony
through her magical agency. She is determined to re-establish her feminine prestige and dominance in the real
ordinary phallocentric world” (Shaheen, et al. 2014).

All others works of English, Indian or Pakistani fiction writers provides the theoretical background knowledge
for the current research study. It is innovative due its being a different novel, a different novelist, a different

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theoretical framework of Simon de Beauvoir (1952). The thesis also uses a different research methodological
approach.

III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The existing research study is of descriptive and qualitative type. It aims at the textual analysis of feministic
perspectives for finding the effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatti in Muhammad Hanif‟s (2011) novel “Our Lady
of Alice Bhatti”. It uses the paradigm of deconstructive feminism in the light of the feminist views of a French
feminist Simon de Beauvoir (1952) that will provide the theoretical background. The earlier works on the
feministic analysis of novels by other researchers are to be used as a context and background knowledge.

The selected extracts or relevant quotes from the text of the novel will be used as an evidence for strengthening
the argument of this research. The event analysis and the character analysis are the important ingredients of the
work. The area as key concepts to be investigated is the effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatt.

The procedure used for the research study is the selection of the relevant excerpts/quotes from the novel. They
will be analyzed elaborately in the chapter Result and Discussion. The conclusion and recommendation will be
made in the light of analysis.

IV. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS

In this chapter, text extracts relevant to the effects of patriarchy on Alice Bhatti, being a woman, will be
analyzed in the light of Simon de Beauvoir‟s feminist views on patriarchy. This part shows the adverse effects
of patriarchal system on the life and existence of Alice Bhatti.

S.No Text from the novel/ Excerpts Textual analysis

1 Alice has to deal with some sub-ethical gestures
of men in the patriarchal society.
The routine harassment of Alice Bhatti is
described as in the novel, “Lewd gestures,
whispered suggestions, uninvited hands on her
bottom are all part of Alice Bhatti‟s daily
existence. She has a whole doctrine perfected
over the years to deal with all of that, but there is
something about this parched tongue (of Ortho
sir) tracing circles around the receding grey gums
that makes her shudder.” (Hanif, 20 11, p.9).
2 Teddy Bhut blocks Alice on her way toward
Ortho ward and asks her putting down the tray.
She is terrified to accept his demand.
Her terror and allegiance is described as, “He
orders Alice to put her tray and bondages down,
which she does. She has realized that Teddy is
serious” (Hanif, 2011, p. 67).
3 Alice on her field visit to Sargodha is sexually
harassed by an old man. She offers resistance to
safeguard her chastity. When she kicks the old
man in the shin, she is threatened with murder.
The old man‟s threat of killing her is given as,
“„I‟ll cut you up and throw the pieces in that well”
These immoral actions have disturbed the smooth
execution of her activities. She has to do extra
efforts.
Patriarchy has reduced a woman to a subordinate
status. It also imposes numerous socio-economic
and psychological hurdles on her independent
existence.
Alice has to suffer such humiliations daily basis
because being a woman she is stabilized as object,
doomed to immanence and life of subjection. She
is barred from property rights, education and
professions (Beauvoir, 1952). She has to give
extra attention to these nonsensical actions of
people. Her concentration is disturbed. Her efforts
require more energy.
Alice Bhatti gets terrified in the patriarchal
environment. She is compelled to obey the
extraneous orders of Teddy Bhut.
A man enjoys a dominant position in a patriarchal
society. A woman is harassed to reduce her to a
subordinate position. She is used by a man as he
wishes. Beauvoir explains that a woman is just to
fulfill the function of otherness. She is an
essential part of man‟s self-definition. She is
supposed to fulfill man‟s being. She is not
supposed to enjoy her real independence
(Beauvoir, 1952). Alice is terrified and she has to
obey the nonsensical order of Teddy Bhut. Her
own work is disturbed.
Patriarchy considers a man superior. A woman is
supposed to fulfill the needs of man. She is even
not given the right of self-protection and
resistance.
Alice‟s resistance is considered as offence. The
old man‟s rage shows that he asserts his right over

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(Hanif, 2011, 95).
4 Teddy Butt‟s indifferent behavior toward Alice
Bhatti increases her miseries and troubles.
Tedyy Bhut‟s indifference toward Alice during
her pregnancy is described as, “Baby‟s father
barges in on the fourth day, when Alice has
packed half a bag, made half a plan and counted
all her money. The way Teddy goes straight to his
cupboard makes it clear to her that he has only
come for a change of clothes, not to reclaim his
wife or hear the news about his imminent
fatherhood”(Hanif, 2011, p. 181-182).
5 Alice‟s views have no importance for Teddy
Bhut.
Teddy asks her for some money and she gives
advices about his life and his activities. Teddy
gets irritated.
“You don‟t look yourself. What‟s the matter? I
ask you for some money and you start giving me
advice about how to run my life?” (Hanif, 2011,
p. 184).
6 When Teddy does a search for fugitive boy for the
police squad, He orders Alice to stay at her father
house as she cannot bear the pressure.
Teddy unilaterally decides that, “I think you
should go to your father‟s for a few days. I don‟t
think you can handle the pressure. I‟ll come and
get you when this is over” (Hanif, 2011, p. 184).
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Alice Bhatti. Beauvoir calls this status of women
as the „privileged other‟. She is considered as the
„privileged other‟ through whom the man fulfills
himself (Beauvoir, 1952). The man considers
himself superior and claims a right of his
sexuality over her. On resistance, She is
threatened with severe physical violence and even
death. So, first, she is put to sexual abuse and then
to physical violence.
Men claim the superiority as if maleness is
regarded to be the absolute brand or standard of
humanity (Ibid).
The patriarchal negligence increases chances of
women‟s subordination and confinement to
immanence.
Alice is thrown into a psychological complex.
She is perturbed about her future with her
husband Teddy Bhut. Beauvoir describes the
reason of this patriarchal negligence that in
patriarchal society masculinity is regarded the
supreme category of humanity. It is considered as
the model or standard for all humanity (Beauvoir,
1952). On the contrary, a woman has been
expelled from social affairs. She is given the
status of minor in the social life (Ibid).
This patriarchal negligence adds to her
responsibilities and worries. She has to perform
the role of both man and woman.
Alice does not enjoy a status of mutual
recognition and consultation. She is totally
marginalized from social and economic life.
Alice is doubly marginalized. No social value is
attached to her views by Teddy Bhut. Her
belongings are forcibly grabbed.
Alice‟s advice and views are not considered of
any worth.
Beauvoir explains that due to patriarchal
superiority a woman has to lead a life of inability
and slavery that is legally recognized. She is not
involved in the affairs of community. She is
treated as a minor in social life (Beauvoir, 1952).
Also, a woman‟s views are considered totally
feminine without any objective perception of
things (Ibid).
This behavior of Teddy Bhut marginalizes Alice
Bhatti from her social affair. She loses her interest
in the domestic affairs. She thinks to get riddance
of such situations.
Teddy Bhut considers Alice weak both physically
and psychologically. He unilaterally decides that
she should stay at her father house. He feels no
need of consultation with her.
It is the patriarchal myth that Alice is considered
as weak and a burden during the task. Beauvoir
explains that a man considers the body of a
woman as an obstruction in the way of his
activities. He thinks that the peculiar anatomical
structure of a woman restricts her in her
performance. She is confined to the limits of her
nature (Beauvoir, 1952).
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It means that Alice is excluded from her

7 When Alice becomes indifferent to Teddy Bhut,
he propounds a unique logic of the sole
possession of Alice. He says that he doesn‟t want
revenge, he only wants justice. Fair is fair. He just
wants to make sure that if he can‟t have her, then
nobody should be able to have her. Is that not
fair? (P. 210).
8 Alice‟s desertion and seclusion is considered as
against patriarchal gallantry. Teddy throws acid
on Alice‟s face.
Inspector Malangi‟s advice of acid throwing on
Alice‟s face is described as, “Remember it‟s
about love. You need to give her something she‟ll
never forget. Never. He points toward a glass
cupboard with a double lock. The label above the
cupboard reads Hazardous Material. Try this and
she‟ll always remember you. This is the only
thing that‟ll hurt as much as love hurts” (P. 211).
involvement in the public affairs. She is reduced
to the status of incapacity and servitude. She is
given an insignificant role in social life (Ibid).
Here, patriarchy reduces Alice to a minor role.
She is excluded from major aspects of social life.
She is confined to her assigned role of immanence
and domesticity.
Patriarchy values a woman as the sole property
and an object to be possessed. A woman‟s
possession is a matter of valor and gallantry for
man.
Teddy cannot tolerate that Alice should become a
possession of someone‟ else. Beauvoir maintains
that a woman is considered as a private property
of her father and husband (Beauvoir, 1952).
Alice being a permanent privilege can best be
enjoyed by Teddy. Beauvoir says that men can
only enjoy this privilege i.e., woman when they
are provided completely and permanently. Men
consider their supremacy as their right (Ibid).
Alice is not given a proper care and respect by
Teddy Bhut and nor she is permitted to lead her
life according to her own standards. She is kept
imprisoned.
Alice is punished for her deflection from the
patriarchal values. She is rendered incapable of
life. She is killed.
It is the effects of patriarchy which makes Teddy
feeling superior and exposes Alice to the brutal
assaults of Teddy Bhut.
Beauvoir explains that a woman is defined in a
relation to men. She is not given any independent
status. She is considered as the other (Beauvoir,
1952). A woman has to adhere to the harsh
patriarchal values otherwise she has to risk her
life to death like Alice Bhatti.
It means that patriarchy imposes certain
restriction on the life of a woman. She has to
abide by all these constraints otherwise she has to
face hardships and troubles.

V. CONCLUSION

The textual analysis of feminist perspectives of Muhammad Hanif‟s (2011) novel “Our Lady of Alice Bhatti” in
the light of Simon de Beauvoir‟s (1952) feministic views has provided a comprehensive description of the
adverse effects of patriarchy on her independent existence.

The study found that patriarchy is a major reason of Alice‟s otherness. She is mostly oppressed due to this
reason. Patriarchy has imposed adverse effects on the socio-economic and psychological growth of Alice Bhatti
in the society. Patriarchy reduces Alice to a subordinate status. She is assigned the stereotype role of domesticity
and immanence. Her existential or transcendental activities are neither tolerated nor recognized by men.
Patriarchy ensures the dominant role of men like that of Teddy Bhut and other men. It causes negligence on the
part of Teddy Bhut for Alice Bhatti. Alice Bhatti is not mutually recognized by Teddy Bhut. Patriarchy proves
to be a root cause of gender discrimination. Alice is discriminated in all aspects of her life due her being a
woman. Alice is considered as a commodity and a property. Alice is not given an equal status in her external
and domestic life by all and particularly by Teddy Bhut. She is not given a decision-making role even in her
private affairs.

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The study shows that all other reasons of Alice‟s otherness can somehow be overcome but patriarchy remains an
adamant source of Alice‟s oppression. It cannot be defeated. It has perpetuated Alice‟s oppression. It also shows
that Alice‟s otherness is not due to her biological construction rather it is her social construction which keeps
her subjugated.

VI. RECOMMENDATIONS

The study suggests that some reasons of women‟s otherness i.e., weak anatomy, reproductive function and
psychological inferiority are controllable. The patriarchal values and doctrinations perpetuate the subordinate
status of women in the society.

The study recommends that proper education, social development and psychological growth of women can
make them capable to withstand the oppressive patriarchal values, end patriarchal superiority and bring
themselves at par with men in all walks of life.

VII. REFERENCES

Ayub, J. M. 2013. The representation of women in Anits Desai‟s novels.PJSS. pp. 351-3

De Beauvoir, S. 1961. The Second Sex, trans. H. M. Parshley. New York: Bantam/Alfred A. Knopf.

Freedman, J. 2002. Feminism. New Delhi: Viva Books Private Limited.

Freeden, M. 1996. Ideologies and Political Theory; A conceptual Approach. Oxford:Oxford Up.

Hanif, M. 2011. Our Lady of Alice Bhatti. London. Random Publisher.

Hidalgo, P. 1991. “The Female Body Politics: From Victimization to Empowerment”. Lecture read at the
inaugural ESSE Conference. University of East Andlia.

Nahal, C. 1991. “Feminism in English Fiction: Forms and Variations”, Feminism and Recent Fiction in English,
ed. Sushila Singh, New Delhi: Prestige.

Shaheen, A., Qamar, S., Hafeez-ur-Rehman, M. 2014. Magical Realism as a Tool for Women Empowerment in
Our Lady of Alice Bhatti by Muhammad Hanif. IASET: IJLL; vol.3, p.107-116.

Sidhwa, B. 1990. The Pakistani Bride. New Delhi, India: Penguin.

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