Under the Hood of Gender, Environment and Identity; Tracing the Elements of Ecofeminism in selected short stories of Sabyn Javeri’s Hijabistan

Abstract

Sabyn Javeri’s Hijabistan, a collection of short stories set against the vibrant yet often oppressive urban backdrop of Karachi, Pakistan, offers a compelling lens through which to examine the intricate connections between gender, environment, and identity. This paper employs an ecofeminist framework to analyze how Javeri’s narratives, particularly "The Date," "The Adulteress," and "The Urge," illustrate the parallel subjugation of women and the degradation of their physical and social environments within a patriarchal Islamic society. By focusing on the experiences of veiled women navigating societal constraints, economic pressures, and personal desires, the study reveals how the urban landscape becomes a symbolic representation of their inner turmoil and the external forces limiting their autonomy.

Javeri masterfully weaves the environmental realities of Karachi – its chaotic urban sprawl, pollution, and restrictive public spaces for women – into the emotional and psychological landscapes of her characters. The hijab, often perceived as a marker of modesty and religious adherence, is recontextualized within these stories as a complex symbol that can simultaneously offer a form of protection and become a tool of societal control. Through nuanced portrayals of female sexuality, transgression, and the yearning for self-expression, Javeri challenges monolithic interpretations of Muslim womanhood and exposes the environmental injustices that disproportionately impact women's lives and choices. Ultimately, this analysis demonstrates how Hijabistan contributes to ecofeminist discourse by highlighting the interconnectedness of patriarchal oppression and environmental degradation, urging a re-evaluation of the relationship between gender, nature, and the quest for liberation in a contemporary Muslim context.