ECOFEMINISM AND PATRIARCHAL OPPRESSION: THE VIOLENCE OF EXTRACTION IN GAUHAR’S AN ABUNDANCE OF WILD ROSES

Abstract

The research paper examines Feryal Ali Gauhar’s An Abundance of Wild Roses (2024) using an ecofeminist framework to expose the violence of extraction in rural South Asia. The novel critiques development models that depend on the exploitation of natural resources, demonstrating the interconnectedness of patriarchy and environmental degradation. The novel demonstrates an intersectional logic of oppression, where the degradation of the environment is inextricably linked to the subjugation of women. Gauhar portrays female characters not merely as victims, but as subversive figures who bear and preserve cultural and ecological tradition. This resistance is a call to rethink the relationship between nature and women, demanding a future rooted in equality, ecology, and justice. Ultimately, the paper argues that Gauhar’s work offers a culturally specific narrative that enriches global ecofeminist scholarship. By presenting the novel’s themes, the study underscores the imperative for systemic change and ethical political economics that promote both environmental sustainability and gender parity.