Gender and Relationships in Preeti Shenoy’s Novels: A Reflection of Indian YouthCulture

Abstract

Preeti Shenoy, a well-known Indian author, has made her mark in bestseller fiction through her depiction of intricate interpersonal dynamics and the changing cultural scene among Indian youth. Her books dwell on issues related to love, gender roles, societal norms, and self-definition, which speak of the vibrancy of contemporary interactions between customary values and evolving aspirations. This paper focuses on Shenoy's portrayal of gender and relationships in her fiction, specifically exploring how her stories strike a chord with the lived realities of young Indians managing romantic partnerships, professional aspirations, and family expectations. Using a feminist and sociocultural critical lens, this research explores how Shenoy's female and male characters negotiate autonomy, agency, and affective labor amidst the confines of Indian society. Books like Life is What You Make It, The Secret Wish List, and Wake Up, Life is Calling describe young people confronting mental health conditions, gender expectations, and identity development, so they are extremely important books in understanding the crossing of gender and culture in new India. By close text analysis and comparative observations of Indian youth studies, the present work weaves out the changing paradigms of love, marriage, and gender identity in an emerging modern society. The research asserts that even though Shenoy subverts some of the patriarchal conventions, her novels also consolidate some of the older constructs, making a complex discourse about gender and relationships. Overall, this paper is a contribution to more general discussions on gender representation in Indian popular fiction and its effect on youth interpretations of identity, love, and cultural belonging.