Muhammad Naveed Ashraf

University of Sialkot, Pakistan

Title: WOMEN VIOLENCE DEPICTION IN DYSTOPIAN FICTION: AN ECOFEMINIST EXPLORATION OF THE PATRIARCHAL PATTERNS IN BINA SHAH’S *BEFORE SHE SLEEPS

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Biography

Muhammad Naveed Ashraf is an MPhil researcher at the University of Sialkot, Pakistan, specializing in ecofeminism, dystopian fiction, and gender studies. My work critically examines intersections of literature, environmental justice, and societal structures. With publications on resistance and resilience in feminist narratives, it combines cognitive linguistics and discourse analysis to explore how language shapes power dynamics. My current research delves into the role of patriarchal systems in disrupting the balance between nature and women, offering insights into both literary and real-world implications.

Abstract

The current research explores Bina Shah's (2018) dystopian novel *Before She Sleeps*, which depicts violence against women and the destruction of nature's biodiversity. The worst effects on nature and women are examined using the ecofeminism framework by Vandana Shiva and Maria Mies (2014). Males use science to fulfill their goals under the pretext of strengthening society. Both women and nature are cruelly disrupted by science, reinforcing a totalitarian state. Patriarchy, science, and technology all play interconnected roles in shaping the world. Science, which is considered a blessing, brutally disrupts both the natural cycles of women and nature. Additionally, the totalitarian regime benefits from this disruption. The study reveals that development is a patriarchal project. Using the descriptive textual analysis method, the study's findings indicate that scientific advancements, sexism, and innovation harm women and the environment. This study paves the way for examining materialism from an ecofeminist perspective to provide new insights and add significant research to the literature.