BEYOND MASCOTS AND MEN: RECLAIMING IDENTITY THROUGH EXISTENTIAL FEMINISM IN THE ZOYA FACTOR

Abstract

Existentialism focuses on how the individual lives life and its inherent privileges. Its structure shows human suffering, the striving to achieve one’s goals, and an associated obligation of existing. Existential feminism takes this idea and applies it to women to develop an awareness of and confront their existence. (Priyadharshini et al., 2022) This paper explores Anuja Chauhan’s The Zoya Factor through the lens of existential feminism. It focuses on the protagonist Zoya Solanki’s journey toward self-definition in a world shaped by patriarchy, superstition, and media spectacle. The novel is popularly read as a light-hearted romantic comedy interwoven with cricket and celebrity culture (Mehra, 2025) but a deeper reading reveals Zoya’s struggle to assert her individual agency against societal expectations that reduce her to a "lucky charm" or romantic interest. Drawing on key principles of existential feminism particularly Simone de Beauvoir’s ideas on women as the "Other" and the necessity of choosing authentic existence. This paper explores that Zoya’s character challenges traditional gender roles by questioning the meaning imposed on her identity. The narrative becomes a site for examining the absurdity of social constructs and the possibility of reclaiming autonomy in the face of them. By situating Zoya’s choices within the framework of existential freedom and feminist resistance, the paper aims to reposition Chauhan’s work within the broader discourse of feminist literary studies.