Feminism in India

Paper Code: 
WMS 602
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This paper intends to enable students to develop a broad overview of the evolution of contemporary feminism, including exposure to the debate over the question between the sexes and the general oppression of women in society, and the women’s movement towards greater empowerment. The student will be expected to develop critical awareness of the major ideological approaches with feminist theories.

9.00
Unit I: 
Feminism in India

Feminism in India – Historical perspective: Emergence in 20th Century, After towards Equality, Institutionalizing Women’s Studies

9.00
Unit II: 
Debates of Feminism in India

Debates of Feminism in India: the nature nurture controversy; Continuity versus Western influences

9.00
Unit III: 
Eco feminism

Eco feminism: Emergence and Issues: Land, water, patenting, environment

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
Women in spirituality

Women in spirituality: Creating spaces in existing religions; Freedom of expression and spirituality as a mode for challenging social norms

 

 

9.00
Unit V: 
Caste in Feminism in India

Caste in Feminism in India

Essential Readings: 

Unit I

pp xi-xxxi Introduction, Ed. Chakravarti, Uma, Thinking Gender, Doing Gender: Feminist Scholarship and Practice Today, Orient Blackswan, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 2016

pp 10-43, Chaudhury, Maitreyee, Feminism in India, Kali for Women, 2004

Unit II

pp 89-90, Nayar, Pramod K, Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory, Pearson, 2010

pp 4-7, Warren, Karen J, Ecofeminism, Rawat Publications, Jaipur, Indian Reprint 2014

Unit III

pp 4-5, 15, 62-65,85, 261-64, Warren, Karen J, Ecofeminism, Rawat Publication, Jaipur, Indian Reprint 2014

Unit IV

pp 18-22, Sangari, Kumkum and Vaid, Sudesh, Introductory Note, 71-83, Desai, Neera, Women and  Bhakti Movement, in Ed. Sangari, Kumkum and Vaid, Sudesh, Women and Culture, RCWS, SNDT Women’s University, 1994

People with No History, in Jain Jasbir, Indigenous Roots of Feminism, Sage, 2011

Unit V

pp 59-88, Mathur, Kanchan, Challenging the Collusion of Caste, Class and Patriarchy Embodied in the State, in Ed. Kathuria, Poonam and Bhaiya, Abha, Indian Feminism, Zubaan, 2018

pp 1-22, 45-63, 94-96, Chakravarti, Uma, Gendering Caste Through a Feminist Lens, Stree, 2009

References: 
  1. Stanley, Liz, ‘Feminist Praxis: Research, Theory and Epistemology in Feminist Sociology’, Routledge, London, 1990
  2. Omvedt, Gail. We will Smash This Prison, Orient Longman Ltd, New Delhi 1979
  3. Bhave, Sumitra. Pan on Fire: Eight Dalit Women Tell Their Story. New Delhi, Indian Social Institute, 1988
  4. Kumar, Radha. The History of Doing: An Illustrated Account of Movements for Women’s Rights and Feminism in India, 1800-1990, Kali for Women, New Delhi, 1993
  5. Rege,Sharmila, Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Narrating Dalit Women's Testimonies, Women Unlimited, Delhi
  6. Sangari, Kumkum and Vaid, Sudesh ed. Recasting Women, Delhi, Kali for Women, 1989
  7. Mazumdar,Vina, Memories of a Rolling Stone, Kali for Women, New Delhi 2010
  8. Chakravarti, Uma, Rewriting History: The Life and Times of PanditaRamabai Delhi, Kali for Women, 1998.
  9. Delaney, Tim, pp.202-230 ‘Feminist Theory’ in ‘Contemporary Social Theory’, Pearson Education, Inc. and Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. New Delhi, 2008
Academic Session: 
2019-20
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