The paper examines gender discrimination, segregation, violence, and patriarchal oppression faced by Afghan women as depicted in Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. It highlights physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual violence inflicted on women?including rape, domestic abuse, marital domination, humiliation, and social discrimination. Through the characters Nana, Mariam, and Laila, the narrative exposes societal norms that devalue women, restrict their education, deny healthcare, limit mobility, and impose forced marriages. The study shows how patriarchal systems, Taliban laws, and traditional beliefs produce generational trauma, emotional suffering, and social marginalization. Despite the brutality, the novel portrays resilience and resistance through Mariam and Laila, who challenge oppression and fight for dignity, freedom, and a better future.
Research Scholar, P.G. Department of English and Research Centre, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya
