Negotiating Love, Family, Career and Spirituality in Contemporary Muslim Women’s Fiction An Analysis of Hafsah Hamid’s “Novel Will You Love Me?” from the Postfeminist Perspective

Melestari Kasih Sayang, Keluarga, Kerjaya dan Kerohanian dalam Fiksyen Wanita Muslim Kontemporari: Analisis Novel Will You Love Me? Karya Norhafsah Hamid daripada Perspektif Pascafeminisme

Abstract

Will You Love Me?, a novel by Norhafsah Hamid, is a post-feminist chick-lit narrative that centers on the protagonist, Zafira, who struggles with loneliness as a result of lifelong bullying. The main cause of her social isolation stems from her ability to "see what others cannot see." This internal conflict leads her to question not only her capacity to love but also her self-worth as an individual. The novel further highlights Zafira’s ability to negotiate a balance between love, family, career, and spirituality, thus reflecting a post-feminist approach that is both holistic and spiritually grounded. This study is conducted with two primary objectives: (1) to identify the post-feminist elements present in the novel, and (2) to analyze how the protagonist navigates the demands of love, family, career, and spirituality. A qualitative research method is employed, with textual analysis as the main instrument for data collection. The findings reveal that the novel encompasses various post-feminist characteristics, including an emphasis on women's autonomy in making life choices within the framework of religious and social values. Zafira is portrayed as managing the various dimensions of her life by adhering to Islamic teachings, prioritizing the achievement of personal goals, and placing her full faith and trust in God.