Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading

Khaled Masood

Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading

Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of female subalternity and processes of feminist resistance in the selected fiction of D.H. Melhim, a notable writer in the Palestinian and Arab American literary communities. It investigates how Melhim's literary works transmit the voices of devastated Palestinian women who are at the crossroads of gendered subjection and political relocation. To achieve this purpose, the researcher draws on postcolonial feminism and subaltern studies as theoretical foundations, particularly the works of Gayatri Spivak, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, and Barbara Harlow. The research utilized an interpretive approach to the texts. He emphasizes Melhim's portrayal of women challenging and questioning patriarchal traditions, rejecting colonial formations, and embodying female autonomy within their confined cultural and political environments. Through an analysis of themes and character formation prevalent in specific works, such as Blight, Stigma, and The Cave, the article investigates how Melhim redeems the silenced voices of subaltern women. This study contributes to a sustained dialogue about Palestinian literature, Arab feminist thought, and the local and global rapport concerning the uses of literature as a site of silencing and possible subversion.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Al Istiqlal University

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

This study did not involve any experiments on humans or animals and therefore did not require formal ethical approval. However, all data collection and reporting practices complied with ethical standards for academic research.

Thanks

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

World Languages, Literature and Culture (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Khaled Masood ^*
0000-0003-3242-0416
Palestine

Early Pub Date

December 17, 2025

Publication Date

December 17, 2025

Submission Date

July 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 15, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Masood, K. (2025). Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature, 7(2), 96-111. https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL

AMA

1.Masood K. Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading. EJELL. 2025;7(2):96-111. https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL

Chicago

Masood, Khaled. 2025. “Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7 (2): 96-111. https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL.

EndNote

Masood K (December 1, 2025) Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7 2 96–111.

IEEE

[1]K. Masood, “Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading”, EJELL, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 96–111, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL

ISNAD

Masood, Khaled. “Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature 7/2 (December 1, 2025): 96-111. https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL.

JAMA

1.Masood K. Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading. EJELL. 2025;7:96–111.

MLA

Masood, Khaled. “Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading”. Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature, vol. 7, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 96-111, https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL.

Vancouver

1.Khaled Masood. Portraying Female Subalternity and Feminist Resistance in D.H. Melhim’s Blight, Stigma, and The Cave: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading. EJELL [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;7(2):96-111. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA97LB64KL