Navigating Margins: Racism and Economic Disparity in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Arranged Marriage

Abstract

This paper explores the intertwined issues of racism and economic disparity in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Arranged Marriage, a short story collection that foregrounds the diasporic experiences of Indian women. Through an intersectional lens, the stories expose how gendered racism and economic instability affect immigrant identity and autonomy. Drawing upon postcolonial feminist theory and diasporic studies, this paper argues that Divakaruni critiques both systemic oppression and internal cultural constraints through nuanced portrayals of South Asian immigrant women negotiating their place in American society.