Embodied Violence: Communalising Female Sexuality in South AsiaZed Books, 1996 - 299 pages This book is a major investigation into the myriad of ways in which societies play out the struggle for cultural identity on women's bodies. It explores the relationship between ideals of motherhood, tradition, community and racial purity and uncovers the ways in which women's bodies become the recording surface of repressive cultural practices and 'symbolic' humiliations. The distinguished cast of contributors explore a wide range of issues ranging from the status of women as bargaining counters of national identity in India after independence and partition to the presence of women as an empowered presence in Hindu nationalism, from the legal definition and legitimation of sexual violence to the relationship between an idealised nationalist femininity and the tourist trade in Sri Lanka. This is an essential book for anyone exploring contemporary debates around feminism and post-colonial theory in South Asia. |
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abducted according active attempt became become belief Bengal body Brahmanas British caste century changes claim colonial consent construction contemporary continued cultural Delhi discourse early economic event example existing fact female figure finally forces frescoes gender girls Hindu husband ideal identity ideologies important India institutions interests Islam issue lives male marriage meaning mother movement Muslim Nagpur nation nationalist nineteenth century organisations paintings Pakistan past patriarchal period political popular position practice present Press question rajput Ramabai referred reformers regarding relation religion religious remain represented role Samiti Sangh sati satt seen separation sexuality Sigiriya signifier social society Sri Lanka status structures struggle symbolic temple texts tion tradition University village violence western widow immolation wife woman women worship writing