Author(s): Ruchika Rathore, Dr. Deepa S. Kumar

Abstract: Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth intricately explores themes of femininity, identity, and resilience within the diasporic experience. This paper examines how Lahiri’s female characters navigate the tensions between cultural expectations and personal aspirations, shedding light on their quiet but powerful strength. Through a feminist lens, the study analyses how these women negotiate spaces of autonomy within the constraints of patriarchal traditions and immigrant struggles. Lahiri’s portrayal of femininity moves beyond conventional narratives of defiance and instead emphasizes subtle acts of resistance, emotional endurance, and self-assertion. This paper also considers how Lahiri’s narratives reflect the complexities of immigrant womanhood, particularly in how cultural dislocation shapes their experiences. The intersection of gender and diaspora reveals the multifaceted challenges of assimilation, familial obligations, and personal fulfilment. By focusing on Lahiri’s nuanced female characters, this study highlights the resilience embedded in their everyday struggles, illustrating that strength is not always loud or visible but often found in the ability to endure, adapt, and reclaim agency within restrictive frameworks. Ultimately, this feminist analysis of Unaccustomed Earth underscores how Lahiri reimagines femininity within immigrant narratives, portraying women who, despite being bound by tradition, find ways to assert their identities and reshape their destinies. Through this exploration, the paper contributes to broader discussions on gender, diaspora, and the evolving nature of female strength in literature.

Keywords: Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth, femininity, diaspora, identity, feminism, cultural expectations, resilience, immigrant women, autonomy, tradition vs. modernity.

Article Info: Received: 30 May 2025; Received in revised form: 24 Jun 2025; Accepted: 27 Jun 2025; Available online: 30 Jun 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.103.107