Introduction to Women’s Studies in India

Paper Code: 
WMS 101
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This introductory paper is intended to acquaint the students at the onset the need for Women’s Studies. This will help even students without any previous exposure to the perspective of Women’s Studies to acquire an interest in the subject and follow its interdisciplinary nature.

9.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Women’s Studies

Introduction to Women’s Studies – Origin, meaning, and scope; need for women studies

9.00
Unit II: 
Women’s Question

Women’s Question: social, political and economic issues and paradigms in post independent India

9.00
Unit III: 
Basic concepts

Basic concepts: Sex and Gender - Definition, Facts and Myths

9.00
Unit IV: 
Concepts of Patriarchy and Matriarchy

Concepts of Patriarchy and Matriarchy; Subordination of women in Patriarchy.

 

9.00
Unit V: 
Role of Women’s Studies

Role of Women’s Studies: need to rethink Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; research orientation.

Essential Readings: 

Unit I  

Mary E John ed. Women’s Studies in India, A Reader, Penguin Books, 2008, Introduction; 1-19

Unit II

Mazumdar, Vina, Making of a Founding Text, in Mary E John ed. Women’s Studies in India, A Reader, Penguin Books, 2008 pp. 27-32

Chatterjee, Partha, ‘The Nationalist Resolution of Women’s Question’ in Recasting Women, Kali for Women, Delhi, 2006, pp 233-253

Unit III

‘Commonsense beliefs and Psychological Research Strategies’, and ‘Stereotypes, Attitude and Personal Attributes’ pp 1-38 in Archer, John & Lloyd, Barbara, Sex and

Gender, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002

Manimala, Bodhgaya Struggle, WSI Delhi, 2008, 46-52

Unit IV

Kamla Bhasin, What Is Patriarchy? Women Unlimited(an associate of Kali for Women) New Delhi, 2003

‘Origins – The Origins of Patriarchy’ pp 39-58 in Archer, John & Lloyd, Barbara, Sex and Gender, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002

Agarwal, Bina, Gender and Legal Rights in Landed Property in India, Women Unlimited(an associate of Kali for Women) New Delhi, 1999

Manimala, Bodhgaya Struggle, WSI Delhi, 2008, 46-52

Unit V

Mary E John ed. Women’s Studies in India, A Reader, Penguin Books, Delhi, 2008, Introduction; 1-19

Kishwar, Madhu, Initiatives against Dowry Deaths, WSI 42-46

Mitra, Alok, Implication of Declining sex ratio in India’s Population, WSI, Delhi 2008, pp 52

References: 
  1. Sen, Ilina. (ed.) A Space within a Struggle: Women’s Participation in People’s Movement, Kali for Women, 1990
  2. Nandita Gandhi and Nandita Shah,  Issue at Stake: Theory and Practice in the Contemporary Women's Movement in India, Kali, Delhi, 1991
  3. Anita Mathur, SaathSaath I-V
  4. S. P. Sathe, Towards Gender Justice, RCWS, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, 1996
  5. Bina Agarwal, Gender and Command over Property: An Economic Analysis of South Asia, Women Unlimited(an associate of Kali for Women) New Delhi, 1996
  6. Menon, N. (ed.), Gender and Politics in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Academic Session: 
2019-20
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