VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF WOMEN'S EXPLOITATION IN MAITREYI PUSHPA'S NOVELS

The status of women in Indian society has always been a matter of concern. In ancient times, women were considered divine, but with the passage of time, their status gradually deteriorated. In a patriarchal society, the interests of men are considered paramount, and women are merely seen as a means of fulfilling men's desires. Today, a woman, regardless of her caste, religion, or community, has to face oppression and exploitation by men. Women who are victims of sexual harassment, rape, social ostracism, abduction, murder, and economic and mental exploitation never receive justice in society; instead, they become targets of criticism from influential people in society.According to Vrinda Karat, "A woman, regardless of her class, caste, or religion, has to endure exploitation. Her labor is not considered labor; she has to endure everything from insufficient food to sexual exploitation." (1)Even before India's independence, the government enacted numerous laws to improve the status of women, and social reformers made tireless efforts to protect women's dignity. The Indian government passed the Special Marriage Act in 1994, the Marriage Act (Sharda Act) in 1995, and a law for the abolition of dowry in 1961 against atrocities and exploitation of women, but the exploitation and atrocities against women have not decreased. Maitreyi Pushpa has depicted the miserable and exploited condition of women at the hands of men in her novels.