Gender Based Marginalization: A Study of A. Revathi's Autobiography The Truth About Me: A Hijra Story

Abstract

This analytical study explores the autobiographical account, "The Truth About Me: A Hijra Story" by A. Revathi’s, through the theoretical lenses of Michel Foucault's concepts of power, knowledge, and discourse, as well as Louis Althusser's theory of Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs). The crossing point of these two noticeable scholars reveals insight into the mind-boggling elements of force, philosophy, and character inside the setting of the Hijra people group in India. ‘’The Truth About Me: A Hijra Life Story’’ which is the primary text of this research project as it is first move in literary realm in breaking the ice and silence on issues transgender community face on daily basis in present-day India. In all the research work which has been done so far this autobiography has been examined and studied through the perspectives or lens of either post-colonial studies or gender performativity, Judith Butler’s theoretical framework, but not a single research article has been written in which Revathi’s autobiography was studied through the lens of French Marxist theorist Louis Althusser’s theory of Ideological State Apparatuses that is, how ideological discourse is responsible for brutal treatment at the hands of both public and state or government of the transgender community in present-day India and how an alternative ideological discourse enables the oppressed minorities to assert themselves and raise voice for their rights.