Exploring lesbian adolescence: an analysis of Abha Dawesar’s Babyji
| Date | 25 December 2023 |
| Pages | 950-958 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-0122 |
| Published date | 25 December 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Roshan K. Morve,Manohar Dugaje |
Exploring lesbian adolescence: an
analysis of Abha Dawesar’sBabyji
Roshan K. Morve and Manohar Dugaje
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to examinethe advancement of cultural transformation overtime
demands certain alterations in human perceptions. It also aims to examine the 21st century’s many
radical changesin India, the constant legal battles to decriminalizehomosexuality, and challenges to the
rigid dichotomy between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Besides, it influences popular culture
among the masses, which hasturned out to create a more visible space for the lesbian community. In
India, lesbian literature begins synchronously under the shades of women’s writing and feminism that
wires new hopesfor their identity.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper examines a primary text as Indian writer Abha
Dawesar’s Babyji (2005). There comes the iconic work o f Abha Dawesar’s Babyji (2005), which
creates a turning point by introducing the life, inner conflict and turbulence of a teenage girl. In
addition, a textual analysis of this novel brings forth an analysis of attributes such as sexuality, gender
and the interplay of caste and class that meld lesbian childhood and adolescence. This paper also
examines how a lesbian girl adapts to and negotiates her maturation amidst vivid social scenarios and
cultural conditioning.
Findings –A few studies (Hidalgo, et al., 2013; Bem, 1989; Pyne, 2016) show many children have
reached or crossedtheir teenage life without accurateor affirmative knowledge of sexualityand gender.
Parents,teachers and even other intellectualsof the adult world fail to transfer their knowledgeeffectively
to children. Definitely, the relevance of sex education is paramount, but more important is what
implementationtactics should be used for the same cause.The point is that sex education should not be
condensed into a certain gender or perpetuate parochial discrimination. It needs to adapt an age-
appropriatecurriculum for the cognitiveand emotional developmentof the individuals. Consideringthese
factors, understanding comprehensivesex education is what is most likely to find sustainable remedies
for thismatter. Gerald writes abouta socialization processand gays and lesbians hidingtheir identity from
familyand society; a fear of rejection; thereis a social gap in peerand family spheres. These fears prevent
lesbianor gay young persons from fullydeveloping their identities(1999). Rao and Masontested a model
derived from minority stress theory in whichthe perceived impact of Section 377 increases depressive
symptoms of sexual minorities by increasing concealment stress, leading to a diminished sense of
belonging.Because of their minority status, they are morevulnerable to and have a higher prevalenceof
mentalillness than heterosexualindividuals (2018).
Originality/value –Babyji has created a discourse to perpetuate normativity and gives importance to
the mental healthof the excluded lesbian group. It opens a door tostudying teenage groups’ issues and
their challenges to understanding social and mental issues regarding their identity. A study on this
untouched area is required to highlight their issues and mental health problems. This research is an
initiativestep to create and provide a platform to raise awarenessin society.
Keywords Lesbian adolescence, Sex education, Lesbian narrative, Sexual minority stress
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Dawesar’s (2005) is considered one of the most captivating coming-of-age novels on the
lesbian narrative spectrum. Abha Dawesar is an Indian novelist based in the USA, and
her works seem to be an endeavor to frame a new Indian reality. The novel bagged the
“Lambda Fiction Award” and the “Stonewall Award” for its inextricable contribution to the
Roshan K. Morve is based
at the College of
International Studies,
Southwest University,
Chongqing, China.
Manohar Dugaje is based
at the Arts, Science and
Commerce College, Ozar
(Mig), Nashik, India.
Erratum: It hascome to the
attention of the publisher that the
article, Roshan K., M. and
Dugaje, M. (2023), “Exploring
lesbian adolescence: an
analysis of Abha Dawesar’s
Babyji”, MentalH ealthand
Social Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-
print No. ahead-of-print. https://
doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-
0122 incorrectly listed thearticle
citation in the XML. This error
was introduced in the
typesetting process and has
now been corrected in the online
version. The publisher sincerely
apologisesforthiserrorandfor
any inconvenience caused.
The firstauthor thanks
SouthwestUniversity (China) for
providingfinancial and
infrastructuresupport. To
extendthis, the authors would
like to expressgratitude to the
journal’sEditor Prof Jerome
Carsonfor kind support. Also,
the authorsexpress thanks to
the journal’sdouble-blind peer
reviewersfor their valuable
comments.
Funding:The author received
no financialsupport for the
research,authorship and/or
publicationof this article.
Competinginterests: The
authorshave declared no
potentialconflicts of interest.
Thisresearch is original and not
underpublication
elsewhere.
Availabilityof data and
materials:Not Applicable.
PAGE 950 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 6 2024, pp. 950-958, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-0122
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