Identity Crisis And Gendered Violence: Exploring The Challenges Faced By Women During India’s Partition

Abstract

India’s division in 1947, a crucial moment in the history of the subcontinent, resulted in the creation of two countries: India and Pakistan. The experience of women, tainted by identity crises and gendered violence, is a crucial but overlooked story amid the political unrest and massive migrations. This study explores the many difficulties women experienced at the time, showing how identity crises and increased instances of gendered violence interacted. This paper aims to highlight the crucial role played by women’s experiences in forming our knowledge of the Partition by drawing on historical documents, and literature. The results show that the conflict between identity and violence against women was deeply rooted in socio-cultural processes and planned political aims, not just a byproduct of political upheaval. This study emphasizes the necessity for a gendered perspective in historical discourse and sheds light on the resilience and fortitude displayed by women despite the confusion of identity and conflict through a thorough examination.