Endangered Femininity and the Theme of Motherhood in Selina Hossain’s Short Stories

"I am your mother," she said. "My name is Complete."
- Toni Morrison, A Mercy (2008)

"Akalir Station er Jibon" ("Akali's life at the Station") depicts the struggling life of a working- class woman called Akali, who earns her livelihood by prostitution at Kamalapur Rail Station. While pondering over her fate, Akali starts to reflect on her past when her virginity was forcefully taken by a man. Being too young to understand what rape means, she wondered why streams of blood came down her legs. Later, she became pregnant by the house owner's son while working as a housemaid in Dhaka. Seeing Akali's growing baby bump, the lady of the house insulted her and threw her out. Akali took shelter in her Nishi aunt's place at a slum. When Nishi accuses her of being a whore, Akali protests and says that she had equally enjoyed the physical intimacy with the boy, therefore, she is not a whore. Selina Hossain shows how a pregnant woman's endangered motherhood can also be a source of mental strength and accomplishment for her. Akali claims boldly, "Amar kunu sorbonash hoy nai" (My life has not been ruined). Akali tells Nishi that her child needs no father. She gives birth to a beautiful daughter, but unfortunately, she dies when a train runs over her body. Since then, being traumatized, Akali chose prostitution as a profession without any regret. She learns the method of avoiding pregnancy during sexual contact. Akali's story shows how the "marked" female body of a mother can still survive even after so much damage and loss.

Selina Hossain, a prolific fiction writer from Bangladesh, is known at home and abroad for her mastery over real life stories. Her writing exhibits her awareness regarding Bangladeshi feminism as she offers a realistic picture of the lifelong struggles with motherhood and sexuality. Her narration of women's experiences can be called what French feminist Helen Cixous would term as "ecriture feminine," or women's writing. Many of Selina Hossain's short stories dig deep into female psyche and critically explore the problems of motherhood.

"Parul er Ma Howa" ("Parul Becoming a Mother") is another of Selina Hossain's intriguing stories where the author celebrates the sexual freedom and motherhood of a lower classed woman Parul. Parul's husband Abbas Ali leaves her although she had everything to offer as a woman. Parul criticizes the socially-prescribed codes of being a mother. Her battle between social obligation and personal preference intensifies when she looks at other mothers of her surroundings. She enjoys physical intimacy with multiple men as and eventually becomes pregnant by an anonymous man. Selina Hossain describes Parul's feeling, "Ma hoyeche shudhu ei bodh oke somponno manush kore dey" (Only the feeling of being a mother makes her a complete human being). Parul endures harsh comments from society due to her pregnancy, but the joy of motherhood endows her with newfound strength. She courageously asks the other women, "Jeguner bap nai hegun manush hoy na?" (The children who do not have their fathers, don't they grow up?). Parul disregards the necessity of identifying the father of her child. She dismisses every man who wants to claim the fatherhood of her child. Selina Hossain, thus, boldly celebrates a libertine Bangladeshi woman's personal desire as she consciously chooses to embrace motherhood.

In another story "Jasmine er Icchapuron" (Jasmine's Wish Fulfillment), Hossain narrates a 26-year old housemaid Jasmine's trauma of being a young mother. Here, motherhood is portrayed as a dangerous predicament for a working class woman. Jasmine suffers from ovarian infection after the birth of her first son. While having an unassisted home delivery, her ovary gets accidentally overturned. The doctors report that Jasmine's ovary has to be cut down in order to save her life, and she will not be able to be a mother again. Desperate to avoid any more pregnancy in the future, Jasmine agrees instantly. The mistress of Jasmine's house is surprised at her determination for the upcoming operation; she cannot decide if that is sheer stubbornness or an act of rebellion for Jasmine. After the operation, Jasmine feels relieved, "Aj theke ami swadhin... Amar ar ma howar bhoy nai." (From this day on I am free... I have no fear of becoming a mother). Through fulfilling Jasmine's wish, Selina Hossain poses an attack on the patriarchal social system that is neglectful towards maternity and women's healthcare. 

Selina Hossain's stories, thus, poignantly narrate Bangladeshi working-class women's experiences. She has taken women's fiction in Bangladesh to another level. Her stories remind the readers of her power as a female writer who can address women's issues, both artistically and realistically.

Jarin Tasneem Shoilee is a postgraduate student from the Department of English, Jahangirnagar university, Dhaka, Bangladesh.