Treatment of women have been a battle for centuries; it is yet to be resolved. Throughout history there is a common trend of culture determining how the different genders are treated. As a result of that being a hindrance; that can dictate how women of that culture view themselves. In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, treatment of women is the focal point throughout the different chapters. In these chapters, there are different viewpoints from three women; Nana, Mariam and Laila. These women represent the generations of women in Afghanistan of that time. The novel deals with different political powers that are trying to over through each other, as a result bringing oppression over the citizens. The society in which the
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Laila grows up not experiencing the hardships that Nana and Mariam endure, but she brings gender equality into light. She sees herself as equal as the men and believes that the impact of the society should not affect her; as a woman. Laila demonstrates this as she talks to Mariam, ‘ “I couldn’t let him. Laila said. “I wasn’t raised in a household where people did things like that.” “This is your household now. You ought to get used to it.” “Not to that, I won’t” ’ (Hosseini 249). Laila lost her parents and was injured by a bomb that went off in the city; she then stayed at Mariam’s to recover. During her stay, she experiences the graphic abuse Mariam has experienced, but she does not tolerate the injustice. Laila continues to demonstrate that resilience towards Rasheed, “Then Laila punched him. It was the first time she’d struck anybody…” (Hosseini 299). These quotes show how Laila is rebelling against the societal norms placed on women. Laila being the younger generation represented in the novel, therefore shows how the different age groups have progressed. She did not allow Mariam’s past experiences with Rasheed to dictate her self-worth, simply because she was a woman. Therefore, the dictations of society could not affect
Laila grows up not experiencing the hardships that Nana and Mariam endure, but she brings gender equality into light. She sees herself as equal as the men and believes that the impact of the society should not affect her; as a woman. Laila demonstrates this as she talks to Mariam, ‘ “I couldn’t let him. Laila said. “I wasn’t raised in a household where people did things like that.” “This is your household now. You ought to get used to it.” “Not to that, I won’t” ’ (Hosseini 249). Laila lost her parents and was injured by a bomb that went off in the city; she then stayed at Mariam’s to recover. During her stay, she experiences the graphic abuse Mariam has experienced, but she does not tolerate the injustice. Laila continues to demonstrate that resilience towards Rasheed, “Then Laila punched him. It was the first time she’d struck anybody…” (Hosseini 299). These quotes show how Laila is rebelling against the societal norms placed on women. Laila being the younger generation represented in the novel, therefore shows how the different age groups have progressed. She did not allow Mariam’s past experiences with Rasheed to dictate her self-worth, simply because she was a woman. Therefore, the dictations of society could not affect