SYMBOLIC POWER AND MALE SUPREMACY: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TARIQ ALI “THE STONE WOMAN”

Abstract

This paper explores the ideology behind Tariq Ali’s novel The Stone Woman through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), utilising Pierre Bourdieu’s (1991) theory of symbolic power. The analysis focuses on maintaining and legitimising male supremacy within familial and societal institutions. Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic power explains how cultural norms and practices become internalised, particularly through the institutions of marriage, family, customs, and traditions. The novel reveals how male dominance is not merely imposed through force or explicit control. Still, it is perpetuated symbolically, as male authority is naturalised and accepted as a given within the social structure. The study also examines Bourdieu’s ideas of habitus and social capital, demonstrating how male family members use their social positioning and cultural capital to exert dominance, reinforcing their superior status. This analysis shows how male supremacy becomes embedded within everyday practices, making it appear as a natural and unchallengeable part of society. By the end of the novel, it is evident that this dominance is not only institutionalized but also reinforced through subtle, symbolic means, ensuring its continuity across generations. This paper concludes that The Stone Woman illustrates how symbolic power functions to reproduce male dominance in ways that are both overt and covert, making it a critical reflection of gendered power dynamics in society.