GENDERED REALITIES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION

Book Code: 1111036803031

Editor: Dr. Shradha

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is an outcome of two years of collaborative research done in two stages: first, a few eminent academicians from various disciplines of Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences came together to discuss the treatment of gender from a multidisciplinary perspective and later this group expanded to include academicians from other Schools of the University and outside the university. The core team has been working on this idea since the past few years. The School of Humanities having diverse disciplines in Social Sciences, like History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, English etc. all working under the same roof gave an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and treatment of a common theme-gender by Sociologist, Psychologist, Historian or a Literature Expert. The team of academicians from different disciplines started to interact and exchange ideas on the theme. In the process, we developed a first-hand insight and information which we have articulated in this book. We offer a fresh perspective on the multidisciplinary approaches to the study of gender. In recent times, gender has emerged as a new area of research and a compulsory reading in all disciplines. We earnestly believe that the study of gender remains one of the most important areas of study in every discipline and has a significant impact in sensitizing the youth. There is a genuine “level-of-analysis” problem pertaining to gender issues. Every discipline treats the subject of gender in a different way. This book attempts to capture the different treatment of a common theme gender, through gender-centric analysis of different issues dealt in various chapters of this book.

 

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Dr Shradha is a Professor in Department of History, in Sharda School of Humanities and Social Sciences. An accomplished Professional as well as an academician having over 18 years of total experience out of which 11 years worked as an Editor cum Analyst in a Government Organisation dealing with international relations. Prof. Shradha began her career as a lecturer in Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, Indira Gandhi Open University before taking up a career with the Government of India. She has also had a brief stint with mainstream journalism at ANI. Her last assignment was at Lovely Professional University, Punjab as an Associate Director. Dr Shradha is a Graduate and Post-Graduate in History from Miranda House, University of Delhi and MPhil and PhD from School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Besides, she has also done Post-Graduation in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University, Hissar. Her teaching and areas of expertise include History, Gender Studies, Geo-Politics, Security & Terrorism. During her work span, she has handled a variety of roles of a Lecturer, Journalist, Editor, Analyst and Administration. Her books on Women in Russian Politics: 1991-2001 and State and Patriarchy, Women in USSR gives an insight into women’s role and status in Soviet Union and Russia and deals with debates on feminism. She is also the recipient of ‘Vishwakarma Award’ given by the Government of India for her consistent outstanding performance, besides several other commendations and awards for various projects successfully completed by her.

 

 

CONTENTS

 

Transliteration Table ......................................................................................................... 7
Foreword ........................................................................................................................... 9
Acknowledgment .............................................................................................................. 11
List of Contributors ......................................................................................................... 13

 

1. Interdisciplinary Exploration on Gender: General Introduction.....................................15

– Shradha

 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER.................................................... 29

 

2. Āpaddharma: Theorizing Adversity & Transgression – Redefining Strīdharma in

the Mahābhārata.............................................................................................................. 31

– Tanni Moitra

 

3. Śiva and Śakti – Divine Energies Prevalent in all Existence............................................ 45
– Ritu Chaku

 

4. The Path of Wisdom: Female Practitioners and Spiritual Leadership in Buddhism.......................................................................................................... 57
– Jyoti Dwivedi

5. Role of Tawaifs in Medieval India in Performing Arts, Poetry and Cinema................... 75

– Anwesha Chattopadhyay & Shradha

 

6. Role of Women in Indian Cinema................................................................................. 89
– Anjali Pandey & Shradha

 

LITERARY PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER........................................................103

 

7. Progressive vs Radical Appropriation of Genders in the Contemporary Re-tellings

of Myths..........................................................................................................................105

– Gurpyari Bhatnagar

 

8. Unveiling the Veiled: Exploring Gendered Power Dynamics in Khaled Hosseini’s A

Thousand Splendid Suns’ and Nadia Hashimi’s ‘The Pearl That Broke Its Shell’............ 115
– Raf Raf Shakil Ansari

 

9. Gendered Violence in the Partition stories of Saadat Hasan Manto
– Prachi Priyanka ............................................................................................................ 127

 

SOCIO-LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER................................................143

 

10. Women’s Body as the Site of Violence and Masculinity Amidst Partition................. 145
– Alok Kumar Singh

 

11. Gendered Bodies, Controlled Desires: Patriarchal Constraints on Women’s

Sexual Agency in India.................................................................................................. 159

– Priyambada Shah

 

12. Breaking Barriers: The Legal Struggle for LGBTQ Equality in India
– Shweta Gupta, Riya Gupta & Chanddsi Gupta ................................................................175

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER.......................................191

 

13. Mental Health and Wellbeing: Gender Perspective................................................... 193
– Hariom Sharma

 

14. Psychological Complexities of Gender and Emotional Expression........................... 207
– Shivani Tomar

 

15. Gender: A Psychological Perspective....................................................................... 219

– Ruchi Gautam

 

 16. JANANI – A Progenitor of Human & Humanity................................................... 235
– Gurvinder Ahluwalia

 

MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER............................................253

 

17. Beyond Binaries: Promoting Gender Diversity in IT Industry Challenges &

Management Options................................................................................................... 255

– Abhijit Ghosh

 

 18. Financial Independence and Gender: Narratives of Economic Empowerment

through Investment...................................................................................................... 271
– Anup Kumar Srivastava