A Voyage in A Ladies Coupe that Changed and Questioned Identities

Discrimination and violence based on gender has been an unending journey. This oppression on women is not only physical but the impact is extended to their mental health. This study delves into the contemporary Indian society through analyzing the novel Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupe. A novel that focuses on the protagonist Akhila’s journey towards seeking an escape from her entrapped life, this narrative also centre on other five female characters belonging to different levels of society. This significant work is explored from the perspective of Brett Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. The purpose of this paper is to bring out the question of identity, the emotional suffering of domesticity and discovering the self. Using Friedan’s concepts the paper examines in understanding the role of these women in various sectors and ages of life. Applying a thematic view, this paper also argues how women struggle in the modern patriarchy. The analysis also brings out how the selected work can be drawn parallel to the concept of “problem that has no name”. The emotional and societal expectations thrust upon these characters by the patriarchal society and the way each of them struggle and how some of them become victimized is also dealt in detail.

Keywords- Violence, oppression, mental health and patriarchy