Avni Doshi, the Dubai-based author whose debut novel *Burnt Sugar* was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, emphasized the importance of radical storytelling by women during a session at the inaugural Khaleej Times Women’s Power Summit held in Dubai on Wednesday. Speaking in a fireside chat titled "What Comes Next? Embracing Change and Finding Your Own Path," Doshi highlighted the long-standing male dominance in literature and the significance of women authoring their narratives authentically.

Doshi pointed out that for much of history, stories have been predominantly told and shaped by men, often requiring women writers to adopt pseudonyms. She described the act of women owning and unapologetically sharing their stories as a form of resistance and empowerment. “For a woman to tell her story and to own her story and to be unapologetic and authentic in that telling is a radical act,” she remarked.

She encouraged women to resist the tendency to soften or sanitize their experiences, especially when addressing difficult or uncomfortable topics. Doshi urged women to embrace the full complexity of their narratives without concern for the discomfort it might cause others, suggesting that doing so creates space for other women to do the same.

Known for her portrayal of female characters who defy traditional expectations, Doshi expressed her particular interest in writing about women often labeled as "difficult" or "unlikable." She described these characters as deeply fascinating, adding that engaging with them challenged her own biases. “The act of writing for me personally has been a discovery that has also opened up my own ways of thinking,” she said. “It forced me as well to face my own prejudices, my own conditioning.”

Doshi’s remarks at the summit underscore a broader cultural conversation about gender, identity, and storytelling, emphasizing the role of literature in reshaping societal norms and encouraging personal reinvention.