This research looks at a feminist interpretation of Elif Shafak's Black Milk through the lens of Judith Butler's gender performativity theory. It examines how the novel contains gender performativity, how it reflects cultural and social standards about gender construction, and how it represents people that violate society expectations by embracing gender performativity. Furthermore, the research investigates the narrative approaches used by Shafak to highlight the intersections of gender, culture, and identity in the texts. The study indicates that the works demonstrates Butler's thesis by having characters defy standard gender norms via their gender performances. Cultural and social conventions presented emphasizing the conflict between tradition and modernization, as well as the constraints imposed by society expectations. The characters challenge these standards by embracing gender performativity and highlighting the fluidity and complexity of gender identities. Shafak highlights the intersectionality of gender, culture, and identity through a variety of perspectives, personal narratives, and cultural references. These strategies help to foster a more inclusive and sophisticated feminist discourse. This research provides a deeper understanding of feminist perspectives in Black Milk highlighting the significance of challenging normative gender notions in literature. The findings explain how people manage and reject cultural expectations to build their identities, shedding insight on the intricacies of gender creation.
