WOMANHOOD, TRADITION, AND INNER CONFLICT: THE FEMALE IDENTITY IN ZULFIYA QUROLBOY QIZI’S OYIMTILLA

Abstract

This article explores the portrayal of female identity and the conflict between personal desire and societal expectations in Zulfiya Qurolboy qizi’s novel Oyimtilla. The work provides a psychologically nuanced portrait of a woman navigating the complexities of motherhood, love, and autonomy within a traditional Uzbek society. Through the character of Oyimtilla, the novel critiques rigid social roles assigned to women and reveals the deep emotional toll of sacrificing individuality in favor of communal honor and duty. Using literary analysis and gender theory, the article examines how the protagonist’s struggle reflects broader tensions faced by women in post-Soviet Uzbek literature.