Introduction to Women's Studies in India

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

The objectives of this course are-

 

  1. To acquaint the students with the need of the subject.
  2. To familiarize the students with several women’s issues.
  3. To understand the basic nature of the discipline.

 

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

 Outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies 

Paper Code

Paper Title

WMS 101

Introduction to Women’s Studies in India

CO 1: Recognize the basic perspectives of Women’s studies.

CO 2: Demonstrate knowledge about various concepts of women’ studies.

CO 3: Appraise the interrelationship between various social issues and women.

CO 4: Examine the importance of the course as multidisciplinary.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Reading assignments

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

9.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Women’s Studies

Origin, meaning, and scope; need for women studies

9.00
Unit II: 
Women's Question

Social, political and economic issues and paradigms in post independent India

9.00
Unit III: 
Basic concepts

Sex and Gender - Definition, Facts and Myths

9.00
Unit IV: 
Concepts of Patriarchy and Matriarchy

Subordination of women in Patriarchy

9.00
Unit V: 
Role of Women’s Studies

Need to rethink Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; research orientation

Essential Readings: 

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, Saath Saath 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.

References: 

Unit I Mary E John ed. 2008. Women’s Studies in India, A Reader, Penguin Books, 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

Academic Session: 
2020-21
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