CWDS Library - Recent Additions

2008: January-February; March

Author       : Sharada Srinivasan

Publisher   : Shaker

Year          : 2006

Pages        : 334

Contents    : Acknowledgements.  List of Tables and Figures.  Maps.  Abbreviations.  1. Daughter Elimination: Outlining the Parameters.  2. Women’s Well Being and Daughter Elimination in Tamil Nadu.  3. Gender, Caste and Class in Kovloor, Salem.  4. Daughter Aversion and Elimination: From Event to Practice.  5. From Practice to Event: Women’s Autonomy in Daughter Elimination.  6. Ensuring Daughter Survival: Strategies, Challenges and Dilemmas.  7. Conclusion.  Definitions.  Primary Sources.  References.  Appendices.

This thesis is about girls who are denied the right to live or to be born in India and asks why and how such a situation has come about. Daughter elimination in the form of female infanticide(killing of infants), foeticide(sex selective abortion) and neglect(withholding vital requirements for survival) is not an aberration or an idiosyncracy but accounts for a large  proportion of missing girls in India measured by the imbalance in the 0-6 sex ratio(the proportion of girls to boys).The study examines the issue from the context of women’s lives in order to unravel the causes of daughter elimination and the mechanisms which create and sustain an environment in which such elimination is imaginable.

The study focuses on the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu , where daughter elimination is recent compared to the long history of several North Indian states. The case of daughter elimination in Tamil Nadu is significance asit challenges the idea that the practice will not occur in regions of relatively less gender inequality, better status of women and high human development. [from the back cover] 

Author      : Kiran Sankar Chakraborty (ed.)

Publisher   : Akansha

Year          : 2008

Pages       : 328

Contents    .      Foreword.  Preface.  List of contributors. List of Tables.  1. Empowerment of women: a note on concept, measurement and issues involved.  2. Feminism today.  3. Women in political arena of Tripura.  4. Women empowerment and Panchayati Raj Institutions in Tripura.  5. Women participation in Tripura Legislative Assembly.  6. Demographic and socio-economic status of women--a profile of Tripura.  7. Status of women in North Eastern States of India--an analysis with special reference to Tripura.  8. An insight into girls education in Tripura.  9. Performance of girl students in public examinations conducted in Tripura.  10. Maternal mortality in Tripura--a case study of South Tripura District Hospital.  11. Health and nutritional status of female daily wage labour engaged in construction work.  12. Health and beauty consciousness of urban women in Tripura.  13. Status of 'Wife' in family--a study on perception of spouse.  14. Empowering the powerless--a study on economic empowerment of women through SHG.  15. Women Self Help Groups in Tripura--status and significance.  16. Self Help Group--a new mantra for Tripura tribal women's vision and hope.  17. Status of women workers in unorganized sector of Tripura.  18. Female workers engaged in the brick-fields of Tripura a socio economic profile.  19. Plight of the part-time domestic workers in Agartala.  20. Empowerment of woman though entrepreneurship development in Tripura.  21. Status of women employees in the banking industry of Tripura.  22. Women in changing society of Tripura.   23. Divorce and desertion in a changing society.  24. Violence against women and redress through counseling.  25. A glimpse of women inmates in Agartala Central Jail.  Index. 

"Women's issues, of late, is receiving immense attention across the globe. Seminars, conferences, workshops etc, are being organised at various international, national or regional platforms. The focal point of such discussion often revolve around the subject of women's empowerment which has become a matter of serious concern for the policy makers. In this situation issues pertaining to empowerment of women in Tripura cannot simply be ignored but requires special attention of all concern. 

This book is a collection of articles and research papers contributed by academicians, scholars, administrators and social activists. There are 25 articles and research papers in the book focusing upon issues concerning women's empowerment and status with reference to Tripura. Status of women may, in one sense, serve as one of many yard sticks of empowerment of women. Again the status of empowerment along with the issues and level associated with it may be reflected in the dynamic component of the status. In this context contributors of this volume have come up with their respective outcomes by analyzing different aspects for empowerment and status."   [from the back cover]

Title         : Exposing the Myths of Muslim Fertility:

                  Gender and Religion in a Resettlement

                  Colony of Delhi

Author      : Sabiha Hussain

Publisher   : Promilla & Co.

Year         :  2008 

Pages       : 280

Contents  :        Acknowledgements.  Introduction.  1. The Politics of Fertility: Shift in Paradigms.  2. The Respondents and their Families.  3. Pregnancies and Fertility.  4. Maternal Health and Contraception.  5. Reproductive Behaviour: How Important are  Differences in Fertility.  6. Some Case Studies: Women’s Experiences.  7. Gendering of Reproductive Behaviour: The Role of Men.  8. Conclusion.  Bibliography.  Index.

The comparative study of two religious communities, Hindu and Muslim, in one of Delhi’s slums throws considerable light on their  reproductive behaviour by going beyond commonly held stereotypes. It begins by exploring whether religious differences override the commonalities of gender class and socio-economic status. The exact nature and extent of differences between these two communities is carefully analysed drawing on aspects of women’s health, marriage practices, child mortality, migration, education and work patterns. Existing theories in the vast demographic literature, especially on the relationships between religion and fertility, are also explored.

Based on indepth interviews with 200 respondents, and using both quantitative methods, the study demonstrates that only an insignificant percentage of Muslim women in fact believe that Islam specifically prohibits the use of family planning. On the contrary, the most important finding of this study lies in greater dependence among Muslims on various temporary birth control devices. It is the practice of sterilization that finds greater reservations among Muslims compared to their Hindu counterparts. Gender emerges as an extremely significant determinant in the lives of all the respondents as far as questions of choice in relation to reproduction are concerned. The nature and severe limitations of the public health system also come in for special attention, and with very significant policy implications.

The book will be of general interest to a wide audience concerned with social issues, apart from those  in the fields of sociology, gender studies, health and medicine. [from the back cover]

Author      : Siobhan Lambert-Hurley (ed.) 

Publisher   : Women Unlimited

Year          : 2007

Pages       : 180

Contents    :  Preface and Acknowledgements.  An Introduction to Nawab Sikandar Begum’s Account of Hajj.  A Pilgrimage to Mecca The Nawab Sikandar Begum of Bhopal.  Preface.  Translator’s Preface.  Chapters.  Appendices.  Afterword  Muslim Women Write their Journeys Abroad.  Bibliography.

"In 1870, Nawab Sikandar Begum of Bhopal became the First Muslim Woman to publish an account of her Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca. She travelled with a retinue of a thousand, visited Jeddah and Mecca, performed the requisite rituals and observances, then returned to India and wrote her impressions of her visit.

Sikandar Begum's critical and often surprising description provides unique insight into the factors that went into writing this quintessentially Muslim journey in a colonial environment. At the same time, it documents a process by which notions of the self could be redefined against a Muslim 'other', and the way in which Arabia was constructed by a colonial subject as part of a modernist discourse about 'the orient'. What emerges is a snapshot of Sikandar Begum as a genuinely complex individual as she negotiated with the colonial power, her fellow Indians and her South and Western Asian co-religionists to craft an image of herself as an effective administrator, a loyal subject and a good Muslim. 

Reproduced here, "A Pilgrimage to Mecca" is the original English translation by the wife of a British Colonial officer, of an unpublished Urdu manuscript. It is accompanied by a critical introduction and afterword that make this offering a comprehensive resource on travel writing by South Asian Muslim Women and encourage the reader - whether scholar, student or enthusiast - to rethink established understanding relating to travel writing, colonialism and world history." [from the back cover]

Title          : Talking Marriage, Caste & Community:
                    Voices from Within

Author      : Saheli Women’s Resource Centre

Publisher   : Saheli Women’s Resource Centre

Year          : 2007

Pages        : 86

Contents    :  1. Background.  2. ‘Our’ Women, ‘Their’ Women: Tales of Control and Violence.  3. Marriae: Re-visiting Feminist Critiques amid Rising  Casteism and Communalism.  4. Outline of the Study, Objectives and Methodology.  5. Discovering ‘Yourself’ and the Other: Women, Religion, Caste and Socialisation.  6. Of Weddings, Marriage and the Art of Survival.  7. Questions of Identity Linger on…for the Children.  8. Increasing Politicisation of Religion, Caste and Community.  9. End Notes.  Appendix.

Today communal and caste-based politics are fragmenting the polity, and leading to strong assertions by marginalized and minority communities. customs and practices that deeply impact women.

We at Saheli talked to women about how they experience religion, caste and the community. Our conversations reflect how these issues manifest themselves in women’s lives, explore conflicting notions of faith and belonging, as well as the complexities between identity, gender and sexuality, especially within the institution of marriage. 

We hope this study will contribute to bringing together anti-caste and anti- communal struggles with feminist critiques of religion, marriage, caste and community, towards a redical transformative politics. [from the back cover]

Author        :  Lena Dominelli

Publisher    : Rawat Publications

Year           :  2007

Pages         :  258

Contents     :     Acknowledgments.  Notes on the author.  Introduction.  1. Constructing, deconstructing and reconstructing communities.  2. Gendered communities.  3. The state, social policy and communities.  4. Feminist challenges to community work.  5. Feminist campaigns and networks.  6. Feminist action on the individual level.  7. Feminist action in the workplace.  8. Feminist political action.  9. Conclusions: changing communities and women's roles within them.  References.  Index.

"Women have long been the mainstay of communities and heavily involved in community initiatives in various guises. Although often the unsung heroes of collective action, the role of women in a community's growth and development has become increasingly important in a globalising world that has changed considerably since the first edition of this classic text was published.

The author draws on the experiences of women to explore the developments in community work and collective action as well as the reasons for the limited increases in the well-being of women themselves. By linking historical material to the present, Women and Community Action examines the ways in which women organise in order to secure social change to enhance the quality of life at individual and community levels.

As well as focusing on women, the book discusses gender relations more widely and highlights the differentiated positions of both men and women in community work. It considers how the gender gap might be bridged in terms of building more socially cohesive communities that promote egalitarian social relations.

Aimed primarily at students of social work, community work, sociology and social policy, practitioners and policy makers will also find the book an invaluable resource." [from the back cover]

Author      : Udai Prakash Sinha and Rekha Sinha

Publisher   : Concept

Year          : 2007

Pages        : 308

Contents    :  Foreword by  Dr. (Mrs) Prema Jha.  Preface.  Acknowledgements.  List of Tables.  List of Figures.  1. Introduction.  2. Globalisation and role of women in family management. 3. An overview of the past literature.  4. Methodological framework.  5. Women and management of household economy.  6. Women and decision-making management.  7. Women and leisure time management.  8. Women, energy and food management.  9. Women welfare and social development. 10. Women and communication need.  11. National Commission for women : an appraisal.  12. Promoting child development and governmental programmes: an assessment.  13. Summary and conclusion.  Appendices.  Bibliography.  Index. 

"This book makes an in-depth study of the role of tribal women in family management and development of society as well as nation, with special reference to the Santhals.

Analyzing the contribution of Santhal women in household economy, it presents an analytical discussion on their participation in decision-making, practice and their leisure time activities. Also, it examines how tribal women manage energy and food problems in the household. The book is useful for researchers, policy-makers and development workers." [from the back cover]

Author       : Sumi Krishna (ed.)

Publisher   : Sage

Year          : 2007

Pages        : 404p.

Contents : List of Tables.  List of Boxes.   Preface.  1. Recasting Citizenship for Women's Livelihood and Development: An Overview.  2. Recognition and Resource Rights.  3. Work and Employment Strategies.  3. The Challenge of Democratic Governance.   4. Restructuring Institutional Systems:  5. Women's Collective Agency, Development and Citizenship. 6. Dignity in Struggle: Lessons from the Past. 

"This interdisciplinary book looks at women's natural resource-based livelihoods in the wider context of development viewed through the lens of citizenship rights. Unravelling the patriarchal social fabric and policy structures in India, it argues that the concept of citizenship needs to be extended to include recognition of ways of life and livelihood, so that women take their legitimate space as productive human beings, entitled to dignity as a political right, and not merely to protection and welfare.

The editor weaves together a historical perspective on varied dimensions of livelihood, development and citizenship. Drawing upon rich field-based researchers in 13 states across India, the authors deal with complex and inter-related themes: the need to recognise women's right to resources and their livelihood and employment strategies; the challenges of democratic governance and of restructuring institutional systems to make them responsive; and the role of women's collective agency in development. Reflecting upon and critically analysing context-specific issues in several less-studied locations, the book shows that there is much to be learnt from empathetic interaction with the collective struggles of poor women, and from action and dialogue on the ground. Further, it suggests that feminist politics has to network strategically with other struggles to counter the resistance of traditional and contemporary patriarchal structure, and to work towards recasting citizenship for a gender-just development that ensures women's livelihood rights. 

With its fresh perspective and insights, this book would be invaluable for research institutions, NGOs, donor agencies and individual practitioners and students working in the fields of gender and development, natural resource management, and livelihood policy, planning and interventions."  [from the back cover]

Author       : Pamela Singla

Publisher   : Rawat Publications

Year          : 2007

Pages        : 285

Contents    :  Preface.  List of Abbreviations.  1. Women's Search for Political Space: A Framework for Research.  2. Women in Political Decision-making: an overview. 3. Participation: concept and available frameworks. 4. Panchayati Raj Institutions: a historical review. 5. The field: Haryana, women and Panchayati Raj. 6. Women's participation: nature and effectiveness. 7. Women's reservation in Parliament: the ongoing debate. 8. The way forward: conclusions and recommendations. Annexures. Bibliography. Index. 

"The Landmark 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India has definitely empowered women in terms of numbers. From the miniscule figure of 2-4 per cent in most of the Indian states, the Amendment has for the first time brought 33-40 per cent rural women into the sphere of the decision-making process. But, being in large numbers is not enough as reservation provides only the possibility of a voice for women, it does not guarantee it. This is also because the backdrop in which the reservation has been introduced in the country is marked by such factors as illiteracy, male dominance, casteism, deep-rooted cultural beliefs and values, which do not encourage women's assertion but retain them in their traditional roles of dependent spouse, mother and housewife. Amidst such social and cultural constraints, it becomes important to study the nature and effectiveness with which the women members are able to participate in the PRIs, specifically their ability to address the women's issues at the local level.

The book is based on a comprehensive study, which looks into the whole issue of women's participation in PRIs in the North Indian State of Haryana which is characterized by an alarming sex ratio in favour of men. The participation is studied not only from the angle of the elected women members themselves but also the elected men members, the public and most importantly by attending the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad meetings.

Thus the focus of the study is to present a combination of both observational and empirical realities." [from the back cover]

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