About the Book

Gender, Patriarchy and Violence brings out the nuances of gender, patriarchy, caste and violence, in the context of culture and politics, with a special focus on Punjab and Haryana. It includes a brilliant exposition depicting the patriarchal biases not merely by ordinary men and women, but even the judges, often resulting in adjudications which are gendered in nature. Tracing the gendered power dynamics from Punjabi literature, the authors go on to highlight the persistence of gendered spaces and choices along with a cultural fixation even in modern urban contexts. The articles cover the conceptual, empirical and policy issues, in the process of change and continuity in gendered societies. This volume is an outcome of the work being undertaken at the Centre for Excellence under the UGC Scheme of Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area. CONTRIBUTORS Abha Chauhan Amandeep Singh Geeta Joshi Justice K. Kannan Kanwalpreet Kaur Komal Sharma Kumool Abbi Laxmi Devi Madhurima Nirmala Devi Puneet Kaur Grewal Rajesh Gill Rajni Bala Rakesh Thakur Reena Chaudhary Richa Walia Sarvar Abbi Satinder Kaur Smita Bhutani Sukhwant Singh Sidhu

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Contents

1. Introduction / Rajesh Gill

2. Delivering Gender Justice: An Introspection from Legal Perspective / Justice K. Kannan

Section I: Gender and Patriarchy in Punjab and Haryana: Some Conceptual Issues

3. Women in Punjabi Culture: A Glimpse through Punjabi Literature / Madhurima

4. Khaps and Gender in Haryana: An Interface / Nirmala Devi

5. From Critical Theorizing to Sociological Appreciation: Locating the ‘Ishq’ amidst ‘Ijjazat’, ‘Izzat’ and ‘Lok Biradari’ / Rakesh Thakur

6. Gender, Caste and Politics in Khaps / Amandeep Singh

7. The ‘Violence of Green Revolution’: Women, Production, Reproduction and Falling Sex Ratio in Punjab / Kumool Abbi

8. Gendered Spaces and Issues of Safety in Cities / Rajesh Gill

Section II: Emerging Forms of Gender Violence: A Field View

9. Gender and Ageing in Punjab and Haryana: Some Issues / Smita Bhutani and Laxmi Devi

10. Rape and its Aftermath: Lived Experiences of Victims with Indian Law / Sarvar Abbi

11. Women and Agency: A Story of Struggle for Empowerment / Kanwalpreet Kaur

12. Education and Women Empowerment: A Case Study of Batala / Rajni Bala

13. Abandoned Wives of NRI Husbands: A Saga of Victimization / Komal Sharma

14. Culture and Honour: Reflections from the Field / Puneet Kaur Grewal

15. Menstruation and its Cultural Connotations in Rural Haryana / Richa Walia

Section III: Handling Gender Violence: Policies and Statutes

16. Gender Implications of Interface between Personal and Customary Laws: The Meos of Mewat in Haryana / Abha Chauhan

17. Gendercide in the Womb! Law Alone Won’t Do / Geeta Joshi

18. Assessing Land Acquisition Law from Gender Perspective / Sukhwant S. Sidhu

19. Legal Protection for Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace in India: An Assessment / Reena Chaudhary

20. Women in Short Stay Homes: A Study at Amritsar, Punjab / Satinder Kaur

Section IV: Conclusions and Inferences

21. Gender Question in Punjab and Haryana: Cultural Fixation / Rajesh Gill

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About the Author / Editor

Rajesh Gill is Professor, Department of Sociology and Coordinator, Centre of Excellence (UGC), Panjab University, Chandigarh.

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