Self-Representation in Sara Suleri’s Meatless Days

Women writings have special relationship with the genre ofautobiography. Since autobiography is about self-life therefore, it notonly captures the spirit of an age but the writer also makes an effort toestablish her/his autonomy through singularization of her/hisexperiences. As a literary form it offers more space and freedom towomen experiences. Hence, it has become the most appropriate formto portray women’s struggle for autonomy. Generally, this genre ischosen by women to express deference and resistance. Suleri’s‘Meatless Days’ is also included in this category. Suleri’saccount ofher life and family is highly relational and contextual. Therefore,Suleri views her ‘self’ in relation to familial and social roles. As aPakistani woman Suleri earlier led a sheltered and protected life. Shealso throws light on the considerable pressuresthat women aresubjected to in South Asian countries and the way kinship systemaffects the lives of women in many ways. Despite rejecting malehegemony Suleri interestingly celebrates motherhood and wifehoodclearly. This paper seeks to examine the development of her ‘otheredself’ into’ empowered self’. Her ‘self’ just like her text appears inpieces and fragments. It is after connecting the pieces that her ‘self’can be reconstructed. Meatless Days is Suleri’s journey from‘otherness machine’ to self-determination and actualization.