In a patriarchal society, men are usually portrayed as dominant over women, creating a continuous male and female binary. Throughout the book Exit West, Mohsin Hamid reveals the challenges women face in achieving independence in a society dominated by men through Naida’s character. In the beginning of the story, Hamid reveals that after leaving her family behind and living alone, Naida has “learned to dress for self-protection, how best to deal with aggressive men and with the police… and to trust her instincts about situations to avoid” (23). By living on her own, Nadia rejects traditional expectations placed on women and learns how to survive independently, ultimately finding a sense of freedom in the life she builds for herself. However, as her country becomes increasingly unstable, Nadia’s independence is constantly tested. When she is groped at the bank, she experiences a moment of powerlessness, yet she suppresses her reaction in order to avoid appearing weak. Although Nadia strives to maintain control over her life, she is often forced to navigate and compromise within the constraints of a patriarchal society.
Nadia’s resilience highlights the ongoing struggle women endure to assert free will in environments that seek to limit them. This shows how, in a patriarchal society, women’s independence is often treated as an act of resistance rather than a basic right. Ultimately, Hamid exposes the broader reality that true freedom for women requires not only personal strength but also a transformation of the societal structures that restrict them.