Resistance against Stereotypical Imaging of Women- A Study of Bapsi Sidhwa's An American Brat

Bapsi Sidhwa'sAn American Brat foregrounds multiplicity of meaning, which delineates cross-culturalism, ethnic purity and image of woman in general and traditional view about man-woman relationship intercommunity marriage religious antagonism struggle for individual freedom and selffulfilment in particular.It is set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Pakistan where Bhutto government has been removed for power and martial has been imposed.The first part of the novel tells the story of Feroza Ginwalla, a traditionalbound Pakistan-Parsee girl and her reluctance to change.The second part highlights her assimilation in American culture.Feroza's parents think that migration to American will broaden the outlook of Feroza.Though she goes there involuntarily, she is enthusiastic about visiting a developed country.Her journey creates awareness in her and she starts liking the new environment, new culture and modern life of America.She nurtures new hopes and fresh thoughts and changes her way of life.She challenges the fundamental doctrines of religions and cultures.She discards the gender stereotypical signs from her mind when she falls in love with a Jewish American.Her parents do not want her to marry a non-Parsee man.Both the Islamic fundamentalism and the Parsee ethnicity cannot have their control over Feroza's new ideas about her future in America.Feroza strongly resists not only the Islamic conservative ideologies about woman but also her own ethnic milieu's paradigm on woman.Feroza creates her own space in an alien society.And she is the representative of the liberated woman of postcolonial era.