International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160     Impact Factor: 9.24

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 7, Issue 4 (July-August 2025) Submit your research before last 3 days of August to publish your research paper in the issue of July-August.

Performing the Inessential: The Ageing Woman and the Myth of Female Identity in Shashi Deshpande’s The First Lady

Author(s) Ms. Riya Srivastva
Country India
Abstract Shashi Deshpande’s The First Lady examines the construction of female identity within patriarchal structures, reflecting Simone de Beauvoir’s argument in The Second Sex that women are “the Other,” defined only in relation to men. The unnamed protagonist, known solely as “the first lady,” derives her social value from her husband’s political position. Her public image as “gracious and dignified” masks an inner life marked by emotional isolation, suppressed desires, and self-doubt.

Through her reflections on ageing, lost ideals, and personal longing, Deshpande critiques how women are celebrated as social icons yet remain invisible as individuals. Her life as a carefully maintained performance resonates with Judith Butler’s idea of gender as a socially constructed role. The protagonist’s unheard words and private memories symbolise the silenced female voice across cultures.

By exploring the tension between public performance and private subjectivity, The First Lady offers a significant feminist commentary on how gendered power structures deny women autonomy, individuality, and self-definition.
Keywords Female Identity, Simone de Beauvoir, Shashi Deshpande, Patriarchy and Performance, Woman as Other
Published In Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On 2025-07-24
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.51782
Short DOI https://doi.org/g9vpkf

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