DISRUPTING THE MASCULINIST PARADIGM IN CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN: A FEMINIST STUDY

Abstract

Our society represents the women as secondary to men from ancient times and the Japanese literature describes the Patriarchal norms. The idea that women are incomplete without men can stem from historical, cultural and social constructs. However, this perspective is being challenged. The novel of Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman interprets the protagonist, Keiko Furukura and her relationship with others. She finds fulfillment and identity in her work at a convenience store, yet faces constant pressure from her family and society to conform to traditional roles, such as getting married and having children. The aim of my study is to examine the tension between the individual desires and societal pressure. My analyses contribute to the existing body of feminist literature by foregrounding the complexities of women’s experiences in contemporary Japan. Further, my study critically demonstrates the woman rejection of traditional feminine roles and her pursuit of independence. My research uses Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of “The Other” and “Existential Feminism” to analyze this novel. The result of my study illustrates that women can serve as a powerful critique of traditional masculinity and feminity norms. My study suggests that Convenience Store Woman offers a nuanced portrayal of an unconventional woman who challenges patriarchal norms and expectations, highlighting the need for greater autonomy and self- definition for women in modern Japanese society and all over the world.