"GENDER IS PERFORMANCE: A CRITICAL STUDY OF MAHESH DATTANI’S BRAVELY FOUGHT THE QUEEN AND DANCE LIKE A MAN"

Abstract

Sex is one’s biological identity whereas gender is one’s identity based upon social and cultural constructs. Gender is a performance-based identity which keeps on evolving, says Judith Butler. Women and men are victims of patriarchal conventions where they make people follow societal conventions. Mahesh Dattani and his plays have been remarkably known for presenting forth the issues of gender identity. Taking up his two plays Bravely Fought the Queen and Dance Like a Man, the paper will be assessing the performances of gender with laid down gender constructs seemingly standing out against the stereotypical mentality of the society. It is not the sexuality of a person that presents their gender, but performances that define gender. Gender is historically constructed and it is on that basis we term an individual as male and female. However, gender is not history-bound rather open to changes. Earlier, women were subjected to different kinds of violence in society but Dattani’s plays stand out in this point proving women as performing to be stronger than ever, wherein strength and courage are only associated with masculinity. Similarly, dancing does not make a man weaker and it has nothing to do with his sexuality. The article will examine how men and women in Dattani’s plays challenge the stereotyped gender norms and social conventions.