PORTRAYAL OF FEMALE EXPERIENCES IN KHALED HOSSEINE’S A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

Abstract

This research paper examines the position of women within a patriarchal social framework, with particular reference to Khaled Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Drawing on feminist thought developed by theorists such as Simone de Beauvoir, Julia Kristeva, Michel Foucault, and Hélène Cixous, the study explores the portrayal of female suffering, marginalization, and resistance in literary texts. The paper focuses on Afghan women who are depicted as victims of male authority and cultural domination. It further analyzes Afghanistan as a male-centered society shaped by religious and patriarchal norms. By highlighting women’s restricted freedoms and lack of agency, the study underscores the necessity of gender equality and social justice within patriarchal structures.