(WCWS 2018) - womenstudies.co · (WCWS 2018) 03 – 05, May 2018 ... Dr. Snehalatha G. Nadiger, NMKRV College for Women, India Dr. Mangal Gouri V. Manvade, NMKRV College for Women,

Book of Abstracts

4th World Conference on Women’s Studies

(WCWS 2018)

03 – 05, May 2018

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Committee of the WCWS - 2018

The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM)

Tel: +94(0) 11 3132827

[email protected]

ii

Disclaimer

The responsibility for opinions expressed in articles, studies and other contributions in this

publication rests solely with their authors, and this publication does not constitute an

endorsement by the WCWS or TIIKM of the opinions so expressed in them.

Official website of the conference

www.womenstudies.co

Book of Abstracts of the 4th World Conference on Women’s Studies (WCWS 2018)

Edited by Prof. Diana J. Fox

ISBN 978-955-4903-98-2

Copyright @ 2018 TIIKM

All rights are reserved according to the code of intellectual property act of Sri Lanka,

2003

Published by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), No:

531/18, Kotte Road, Pitakotte,10100, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94(0) 11 3098521

Fax: +94(0) 11 2873371

iii

Hosting Partner:

Bridgewater State University, USA

Academic Partners:

Nepal Centre for Contemporary Research (NCCR), Nepal

Rikkyo University, Japan

Organized By:

The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka

PROF. DIANA J. FOX (Conference Chair, WCWS 2018)

Professor and Chairperson, Department of

Anthropology, Journal of International Women’s

Studies, Bridgewater State University, USA

DR. JINKY LEILANIE LU (Keynote Speaker, WCWS 2018)

Research Professor, National Institutes of

Health, University of the Philippines Manila,

Philippines

MS. CHAYMAE SAMIR (Keynote Speaker, WCWS 2018)

Entrepreneur I Columnist, United Kingdom

MS. SENELA JAYASURIYA-ABEYNAIKE (Invited Speaker, WCWS 2018)

Founder & CEO of Women Empowered Global

ASST. PROF. MADHAVI VENKATESAN (Plenary Speaker, WCWS 2018)

Bridgewater State University, USA

DR. SUBESHINI MOODLEY (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

PROF. MASUE KATO (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)


DR. MELISSA TOMBRO (Session Chair, MEDCOM 2018)

The State University of New York, USA

PROF. DR. MIRA SONNTAG (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)


WCWS 2018 Committee

iv

DR. URMISHREE BEDAMATTA (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Ravenshaw University, India

DR. SUMI DAA-DHORA (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Assam University Diphu Campus, India

DR. KALYANI VALLATH (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Total English Solutions (TES) Trivandrum, India

DR. ENAV FRIEDMANN (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

University of Bar Ilan, Israel

PROF. JULIE CWIKEL (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)


DR. HELEN JAQUELINE MCLAREN (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Flinders University, Australia

DR. MARIANNA VARGAS DE FREITAS CRUZ LEITE (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

University of Coimbra, Portugal

PROF. ANTONIA NAVARRO TEJER (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

University of Cordoba, Spain

DR. SUDESHNA GHOSH (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Scottish Church College, India

DR. BONITA HAMPTON (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

SUNY Oswego, USA

DR. QURAT UL AIN (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

University of Gujrat, Pakistan

DR. SYAZLIANA ASTRAH (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Ministry of Women, Malaysia

DR. REKHA MAHADEV (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)


PROF. NIDHI ARORA (Session Chair, WCWS 2018)

Banasthali Vidyapith, India

v

MR. ISANKA. P. GAMAGE (Conference Convener, WCWS 2018)

The International Institute of Knowledge

Management, Sri Lanka

MR. OSHADEE WITHANAWASAM (Conference Publication Chair, WCWS 2018)



MR. KEERTHI CHANDANA (Conference Secretariat, WCWS 2018)



Editorial Board-ICOM 2013

Editor in Chief

Prof. Diana J. Fox, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Anthropology, Journal of International Women’s

Studies, Bridgewater State University, USA

The Editorial Board is not responsible for the content of any research paper

Dr. Agata Stepien, Indevol International Research Group, Germany

Dr. Shermal Wijewardene, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dr. Swarna Ukwatta, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Prof. I.M.K. Liyanage, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Asst. Prof. Hsiao-Wen Cheng, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Prof. Jill Bystydzienski, The Ohio State University, USA

Dr. G.P. Acharya, Nepal Center for Contemporary Research, Nepal

Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti, Nepal Center for Contemporary Research, Nepal

Prof. U.I. Shiori, Graduate School of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University, Japan

Asst. Prof. Teresita G. Villamor Barrameda, University of the Philippines, Philippines

Asst. Prof. Madhavi Venkatesan, Bridgewater State University, USA

Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti, Nepal Centre for Contemporary Research, Nepal

Dr. Lai Suat, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

Dr. Ameer Sultana, Panjab University, India

Dr. Tina Escaja, University of Vermont, USA

Prof. Dr. Mira Sonntag, Rikko University, Japan

Editorial Board - WCWS 2018

Scientific Committee - WCWS 2018

vi

Dr. Annal Tandukar, Nepal Centre for Contemporary Research, Nepal

Prof. Grace Wamue-Ngare, Kenyatta University, India

Dr. Ponmalar N. Alagappar, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Dr. Rowena A. Laguilles, University of Philippines, Philippines

Dr. Rachana Pandey, Vasanta College for Women, India

Dr. Aradhana Vaidaya, Bharatiya Mahavidyalaya, India

Dr. Ramzan Shahid, University of Gujrat, Pakistan

Dr. Aziz Bin Shafie, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Dr. S.P. Srimathi, NMKRV College for Women, India

Dr. Snehalatha G. Nadiger, NMKRV College for Women, India

Dr. Mangal Gouri V. Manvade, NMKRV College for Women, India

Dr. Manjari Shukla, Vasanta College for Women, India

Dr. Abhishek Mishra, Institute of Management Studies, India

Dr. Shipra Gupta, Panjab University, India

Prof. Nishi Mitra, Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies, India

Prof. Tanusree Paul, Visva-Bharati, India

vii

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR WCWS 2018

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Anthropology Department

Greetings and welcome to Colombo, Sri Lanka and to the Fourth, World Conference on

Women’s Studies.

It is with great pleasure that I serve as conference chair for the third time for the World

Conference on Women’s Studies, organized by The International Institute of Knowledge

Management (TIIKM). Bridgewater State University, my home institution, is honored to be a

hosting partner. I attended the second and third conferences in Colombo in 2016 and 2017,

for which I also served as conference chair. The 2018 conference, like the previous one, is in

part shaped by observations and insights from the previous conferences, and we are pleased

to offer some additional features to the regular panels for the event. 1) The World Conference

on Women’s Studies (WCWS) Forum: “Women’s Economic Empowerment and Increasing

Leadership Opportunities”. This is a panel of scholar-activists who will address key

challenges and potential solutions for gender equality via economic and leadership

opportunities, both within Sri Lankan and wider global contexts; 2) A publishing workshop to

encourage submissions to partnering journals; and 3) A youth forum where we can learn from

local youth about challenges they face an and to encourage awareness of gender and women’s

issues.

As with last year, this year we also look forward to a stimulating and provocative conference,

one that challenges our ideas, builds our connections with one another, and invigorates us in

our work. The theme, Women’s Studies: Gendered Scholarship, Activism, and

Storytelling for a Sustainable Planet, promises to help us achieve these goals by

highlighting the current challenges we face in building resilient local, regional, and global

women’s movements that respond to the increasing pressures of climate change. Women’s

stories are critical in this endeavor.

viii

I want to thank TIIKM on behalf of all conference participants, for organizing the conference,

juggling all the logistical details including the hotel, meals, program, and other features of the

conference planning. This group of sharp thinking, energetic, and hopeful conference

organizers continue to add to the human story through their innovative conference themes,

tackling the most difficult, persistent, and pressing topics of our times, bringing scholars,

activists, policymakers, educators, artists and others together from across the region and the

planet.

Please take every opportunity during the conference to engage with one another, to discuss

your ideas for research, writing and practice. I also hope that you take some time to explore

Colombo in all its vibrancy. Welcome to the conference!

Conference Chair WCWS 2018,

Diana J. Fox,

Professor and Chairperson,

Anthropology Department,

Bridgewater State University,

USA.

ix

Table of Contents Page No

A1 01 Women Empowerment on Their Rights towards Social Position:

Voice of Plantation Women

T. Kalaimagal and S. Dayaratne

03

A2 02 Change of Females’ Farming Life through CPEC: An Instance of

Town Qadira Bad (Nearby Coal Power Plant Project of CPEC)

K. Niazi, H. Guoqiang, S. Khan, T.M. Awan and N. Baig

04

A3 03 Examining Women Potters in Kutahya the Leading Ceramic Center

O.A. Yuksel

05

B1 04 Christian Feminism in Japan – The Case of Mukôkai (Churchless

Christianity)

C. Yatabe

06

B2 05 0

2

“Family-Centrism” in Japanese Churches: Heterosexism, Patriarchy,

and the Japanese Imperial System

M. Kudo

07

B3 06 Christian Feminism in Japan

M. Sonntag

08

B4 07 Gender Discrimination and Women’s Rights: A Comparative

Analysis with Ancient Brahman Thoughts, Buddhist Philosophy and

Human Rights Law

D.M.N.M. Jayarathna

09

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

WOMEN, RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY (B)

RURAL WOMEN, LIVELIHOODS AND AGRICULTURE (A)

x

C1 08 Ethical Issues in Advertising: Framing of Women in Taboo

Advertisements in Pakistan

T. Anwar and J. Mazahir

10

C2 09 “Deval Chaaran Who Makes the Story Happen in the Epic of

Pabuji”

S. Shukla

11

C3 10 Sri Lanka’s Contemporary Women Artists: Representing the Female

Body (Re-appropriation of Gender Biased Images)

M-D. Gil

12

D1 11 Protection of Women Hygiene and the Laws of War: A Critical

Analysis

E.K. Pandian and M.Z.K. Khan

13

D2 12 Retelling Conflict: Lives and Narratives of Women in Northeast

India

S. Daa-dhora

14

D3 13 ‘From Innocent Victims to Dangerous Elements’? The Rising Trend

of Female Suicide Bombers in Northeast Nigeria

R. Buba

15

D4 14 Violence as a Site of Women’s Agency in War: The Representation

of Female Militants in Sri Lanka’s Post-War Literature

T.N.K. Meegaswatta

16

PORTRAYAL AND REPRESENTATIONS OF AND BY WOMEN (C)

CONFLICT, WAR AND ARMED STRUGGLE (D)

xi

E1 15 Women Write New York City

M. Tombro

17

E2 16 Sacks of Mutilated Breasts: Violence and Body Politics in Partition

Literature

N-T. Antonia

18

E3 17 Eco-Feminism and Indian Literature

P. Pandya

19

E4 18 Portrayal of Lesbian Characters in Fictional Narratives: An Analysis

Using Adrienne Rich’s Concept of Lesbian Continuum and

Existence

M. Moses

20

E5 19 The ‘Scholar as Activist’: Postcolonial Feminist Film Practice as a

Tool for Social, Development, Empowerment and Resistance

S. Moodley

21

E6 20 Gender Analysis in Kokkilai Lagoon Region

B.J. Rasanen

22

E7 21 Deconstructing Theory-Practice: Re-Thinking Methodology

S. Kriti

23

E8 22 Biology as Politics in Gender Significations: a Study of Tony

Morrison’s The Bluest Eyes

S.M. Vanamala

24

F1 23 An Insight to Women in Construction for Fostering Female Careers

in Sri Lankan Construction Industry

V. Srivishagan and R. Thalpage

25

WOMEN, WORK AND RIGHTS (F)

THE NATURE OF RESEARCH AND WRITING BY AND ABOUT WOMEN (E)

xii

F2 24 Pluralizing Discourses: Multinationals and Gender Equality

M.V.F.C. Leite

26

F3 25 Eradication of Pregnancy Discrimination & Institution of Gender

Equality in the Work Place: A Legal Perspective

S.A. Caygill

27

F4 26 Strengthening and Empowerment of Women Participation in

Informal Women Entrepreneurship in Northern Province of Sri

Lanka (Sustainable Entrepreneurship)

V. Sinnathamby and J.S. Paramananthan

28

F5 27 Social Enterprise and Women's Empowerment: Case Studies from

India

S. Kumar

30

F6 28 Exploration of Workplace Sexual Harassment through the

Dimensions of Social Class and Race

R.J. Abeywardena

31

F7 29 The Influence of Gender on Entrepreneurial Skill and

Entrepreneurial Intention among Youth in Sri Lanka

P. Pretheeba and S. Vijayapala

32

F8 30 Perspective of Women’s Role & Gender Equality Issue in

Engineering Based Company (A Study in Mhe-Demag Branches

Located in Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore)

P. Victor

33

F9 31 Women as Social Entrepreneurs: Opportunities, Challenges

K. Vallath

34

F10 32 Woman as an Image in War Propaganda Posters

E.E.K. Bog

35

xiii

G1 33 Domestic Violence against Women in Bangladesh: An Analysis

from Criminological Perspectives

K.F. Rahman

36

G2 34 The Taboo of Sex within Gender Based Violence: Localising the

Gender and Development Paradigm in Cambodia

E.C. Robertson

37

G3 35 Gender-Based Violence in Extreme Settings: Remoteness,

Resistance, and Recovery

A. Ahmad, J. Mannell and G. Shannon

38

G4 36 Domestic Violence: Public Reactions and Strategic Interventions

S.A.M. Idris, N.F.M. Nizar, K.A. Rasip, N.N.A. Aziz and R.K.R.M.

Khalid

39

G5 37 Action Research: Survey on Sexual Harassment at the Nallur

Temple Festival, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, August 2017

S. Selvaratnam

40

G6 38 A Climate of Gendered Violence: Intersectional Identities and

Politics of Discrimination against Women

D. Saksena

41

G7 39 Tales from the Inner Quarters: How a Queen Mother Avenges Her

Daughter’s Murder and Other Stories of Eastern India

U. Bedamatta

42

G8 40 Honor Killings in Modern Arab Literature: Fact and Fiction

O. Amin

43

G9 41 Constructing and Deconstructing Socio-Cultural Discourses for Help

Seeking after Domestic Violence

S. Rasool

44

G10 42 Sexual Harassment on Repayment of Loans in Women

Entrepreneurship; Case Study from War-Torn Areas in Sri Lanka

S. Vijayapala and S.P. Jebewathani

45

FORMS OF GENDERED AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE (G)

xiv

H1 43 HIV/AIDS Stigma: Kenyan Women Tell Their Stories

B. Hampton

46

H2 44 Socio-Psychological Aspects of Women

A.J.L. Maray and C. Priyadharsini

47

H3 45 Prospective Memory and Its Gender Differences

C.M. Chandrika and B.W.D. Raja

48

H4 46 Lives (in) Between

A. Mishra, A. Kumar, N. Kapoor, R. Kapoor, A. Sengupta, A.

Mishra and A. Singh

49

H5 47 Socio-Cultural Study of Heroin Using Female Sex Workers in the

City of Colombo

S.L. Abeysekera

50

J1 48 Malleability of Gender Roles and Spatial Transformation of

Nelibewa, Sri Lanka

K. Herath

51

J2 49 Padmaavat, Honour and Jauhar: A Discourse on Cultural Feminism

and Movie Industry in India

W.A.H.C.M. Perera

52

J3 50 Civic Engagement and Political Participation Trends amongst

Female Students in Pakistani Universities: View from Lahore

M. Mirza and J. Hussain

53

EXPLORING GENDER DYNAMICS ACROSS MULTIPLE SECTORS OF

SOCIETY (J)

WOMEN, HEALTH AND ILLNESS (H)

xv

J4 51 Women Academic Leaders in Higher Education in Pakistan:

Perspectives of Female Students Enrolled in Higher Education

Degrees

A.J. Khokhar

54

J5 52 Women Empowerment, Education and Transformation: A Case

Study of Pakistan

S. Muneer

55

J6 53 The Undefeated Monster of Hegemonic Masculinity in Hunter’s

Run

P. Fišerová

56

J7 54 Gendered Life Choice and Gendered Success: Case Studies of

Nepali Women Migrants in Japan

M. Tanaka

57

J8 55 Widows and Concubines: Tradition and Deviance in the Women of

Kanthapura

M.E.P. Ranmuthugala

58

K1 56 Trends in Contraceptive Use Some Experiences from India and Her

Neighbouring Countries

S. Ghosh

59

K2 57 Choosing Permanent Contraceptive Methods: Sri Lankan Women’s

Experiences Under the Shadows of Patriarchy and Paternalism

N. Mendis and H. Rathnamalala

60

K3 58 Women and Access to Family Planning Women’s Right to Decide:

A Distant Reality in India

S. Chauhan

61

K4 59 A Study on Impact of Increased Access to Family Planning on

Fertility and Health among Rural Women at Tamil Nadu, India

T. Murugesan and K.R. Murugan

62

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HEALTHCARE (K)

xvi

L1 60 The Acts of Silence and the Secrets We Keep: Youth Disrupting a

Culture of Concealment

R. Mahadev and N. de Lange

63

L2 61 Women Trafficking: A Study of Its Impact towards Empowerment

N. Arora

64

L3 62 Prioritizing the Women’s Voice on Matters Affecting Them:

Interventions with Domestically Violent Men

H.J. McLaren, J. Fischer and L. Zannettino

65

L4 63 Silent Protests and Silent Power: How Women Use Silence as a

Form of Agency

G.J. Gatwiri

66

M1 64 Advancing Widespread Rape as Jus Cogens Norm

A. Alexander

67

M2 65 A Critical Study on Hindu Woman’s Right to Property and to

Divorce: Bangladesh Perspective

R. Khatun and F. Abedin

68

M3 66 Gender Equality and Decent Work for Female Sex Workers in

Jamaica

R.M. Mitchell

69

PATRIARCHY, POWER, AND RESISTANCE (L)

WOMEN, GENDER AND THE LAW (M)

xvii

N1 67 Women Adaptation Responses to Climate Change and Poverty in

Zimbabwe: A Case of Bindura District

L. Musevenzo

70

N2 68 Participation and Voice of Women in Community-Based

Organization (A Special Reference to Mathagal East Rural Water

Supply)

C. Balachandran

71

N3 69 The Dynamics of Gender and Development: A Jamaican Perspective

I.O. Boxill and D.K. Fletcher

72

Q1 70 Single Women and Changing Values: Contesting Institution of

Marriage

S. Awasthi and S. Sharma

73

Q2 71 The Practice of Surrogacy in Sri Lanka: A Dilemma between Bodily

Autonomy, Law and Culture

A.H.M.D.L. Abeyrathna

74

Q3 72 Intersectionality and Child Marriage: A Perspective on Sri Lanka

S. Ravi

75

Q4 73 Rethinking Violence, Understanding Domesticity

A. Sinha

76

MARRIAGE, MOTHERS AND WIVES (Q)

GENDER, CLIMATE CHANGE, DISASTERS AND SUSTAINABILITY (N)

xviii

R1 74 The Marketing of Female "She-Agra": Men and Women's

Perspectives on Women's Sexual Desire

E. Friedmann and J. Cwikel

77

R2 75 The Hidden Identity: Exploring Experiences of One of the Youngest

Transgender Woman in India

A. Chawla

78

R3 76 Psychosocial Intervention for Jamaican Teen Moms: What Does

Gender Have to Do With It?

T.A. McFarlane

79

R4 77 The Gender Symbolism Process is a Women’s Empowerment Tool:

A case of Electronic Resources Awareness Trainings for Uptake in

Ugandan Public Universities

R. Nsibirano

80

S1 78 Women in Peace Politics of Nepal: Struggles and Success

B.R. Upreti

81

S2 79 Sexual Violence and State Responses: A Case Study of the Delhi

Gang Rape Case of December 2012, Lessons for the Post-Colonial

Context

P. Bakshi

82

S3 80 Challenge and Response: A Case Study of Benazir Bhutto Prime

Ministerships

Q.A. Bashir, M.R. Shahid and M.D. Mohabbat

83

S4 81 Female Participation and the National Decision Making on Women

Issues in Pakistan: Comparative Analyses of Post 2002 Scenario

R.Z. Malik

84

SEXUALITY AND GENDER DIVERSITY (R)

WOMEN, POLITICAL PROCESS AND THE STATE (S)

xix

S5 82 'Stories for Purpose' Using Documentary Film and Participatory

Forums in Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

S.L. Rooney-Harding

85

P1 83 Hopping Hurdles: Research in Women’s and Gender & Sexuality

Studies

S.A. Howard

89

P2 84 Women in Japanese Contemporary Art

K. Masue

90

85 Khadija: The Caravan Owner

M. Meilleur

93

86 Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity in Sri Lankan Perspective

with Special Reference to Rights and Position of Sexual Minorities

in Criminal Justice System of Sri Lanka

A.H. Wijayath

94

87 “Things That Cannot be Said”: A Visual Work to Reflect about

Urban Freedom and Women

C. Roselli

95

88 The Working Women Taboo: A Qualitative Study by Syrian

Refugee Women

Z. Karadsheh

96

89 The Effects of Husband’s Alcohol Consumption and Women’s

Empowerment on Domestic Violence in India: Insights from

NFHS-4

A. Parekh

97

VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS

POSTER PRESENTATIONS (P)

xx

90 Bracketing Educational Technology and Gender Perspective in the

University Context

V.S. Nirban, T. Shukla and D. Dosaya

98

91 Women’s Sports in India : A Feminist Review

M. Mondal

99

92 Gender and Security – Women Military Service in Social

Perspective – History, Present, Law, Communication

B. Drapikowska

100

93 Gender Identity and Leader Self-awareness: A Research on Chinese

University Female Student Leaders

Y. Wang

101

94 Exploring the Gender Digital Divide: Connecting ICT and Women

Entrepreneurship

T. Shukla and V.S. Nirban

102

95 Understanding Masculinity in Pastoral Communities in Northern

Kenya

J.J. Kottutt

103

96 Re-Narrating the Self

S. Bhat

104

97 Is there an Outside to the Closet?

S. Bhat

105

98 Traversing the Cracks in the Empowerment Narrative

U. Sinha

106

99 Women and Institutional Representation :Trend or Paradigm Shifts

M. Kaushik

107

100 The Role of Researcher’s Positionality in the Creation of

Knowledge

F. Tayyab

108

xxi

101 “Representations of Women’s Role in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis

through Drama Serials”

A. Fatima

109

102 Socio-Cultural Inertia and Women’s Vulnerability: A Case Study

on Sanitation Practices

R. Ramesh and R.R. Bhavani

110

103 An Inclusive Grassroots Approach for the Post-Feminist Era: A

Case Study of Sri Lanka

S. De Visser

111

104 Who Perpetrates Violence on Own Spouses? Evidence from India

B. Thomas, H.P. Trivedi, R. Subhash and S.N. Pathak

112

105 Revisiting the Terms of the Patriarchal Bargain: Exploring the

Gender Politics of Household Money Management in Rural Nepal

L. Gram, J. Skordis-Worrall, J. Mannell, G. Shannon, D.

Manandhar , N. Saville and J. Morrison

113

106 Gender Consideration in Admittance of Reproductive Health

Facilities in Pakistan

S. Akram, R.N. Alam and N. Li

114

107 Empowering South Asian Women through Accessible Education–

Achievements of Bangladesh

H. Barua

115

108 Filling Up the Gaps between Formal and Informal Women: Law

Reforms for the Development of the Status of Sri Lankan Domestic

Working Women

J.A.I. Kumarasinghe

116

109 Secularism, Democracy and Women’s Rights: India in a Global

Context

S.B. Banerjee

117

xxii

110 “I’m Not Your Dalit”; Issues of Identity and Solidarity

J. Brunnekreef

118

111 Early Marriage: Prospects of Schoolgirls

N.R. Bhandari

119

xxiii

4th World Conference on Women’s Studies (WCWS 2018)

Page | 1

ORAL PRESENTATIONS


Page | 2


Page | 3

A1 [01]

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ON THEIR RIGHTS TOWARDS SOCIAL POSITION:

VOICE OF PLANTATION WOMEN

T. Kalaimagal and S. Dayaratne

Freelance Researchers, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

In the year 2017, tea plantation of Sri Lanka has passed a remarkable milestone in an agricultural

industry as it contributes one of the major portion for country’s economic development. 150 years

history of Plantation Tamil Women in the tea plantation were at the center of production and margins

of economic, political and social life. Rights and empowerment are complimentary to each other lead

to derive close linkage to determine the freedom of thinking and upward mobility of Women and this

is not an exemption to plantation women. Although the Sri Lankan Constitution of 1978, the

CEDAW and co-treaties of UN promote the women’s rights in Sri Lanka, women in plantation areas

are still been subject to various women rights violations and lacks political, social and economic

empowerment. The objective of this short documentary highlights “how plantation women

comprehend Rights and Empowerment in their work place, household and social life?” Ability of

influence on major factors affected could lead to change the plantation women on their social

position. Some Statement and case studies will brings the expressions of women on deep rooted

patriarchal cultural values, rigid and cruel regulations of estate management of plantation, trade union

and political influences towards their social position. Propose attentions to government, trade unions,

and civil society organizations to take appropriate Affirmative Action to empower and educate

plantation women to improve their social position, implement locally and accepted by nationally and

internationally.

Keywords: plantation women, women's' rights, violation, empowerment, and affirmative action


Page | 4

A2 [02]

CHANGE OF FEMALES’ FARMING LIFE THROUGH CPEC: AN INSTANCE OF

TOWN QADIRA BAD (NEARBY COAL POWER PLANT PROJECT OF CPEC)

K. Niazi1, H. Guoqiang1, S. Khan2, T.M. Awan3 and N. Baig4

1 School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

2School of Finance, Zhongnan University Economics and Law, Wuhan, China

3 Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology,

Islamabad, Pakistan

4Collage of Public Administration, (HUST) Hua Zhong University of Science and

Technology, Wuhan, China

ABSTRACT

The paper focuses on change of females’ farming life through the construction of “Coal Power Plant

Project” via China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative located in Qadira Bad, Punjab,

Pakistan (A small town in province Punjab of Pakistan). Coal Power plant is one of the energy power

plants which is being built on people agricultural lands, so it tends to influence the people’s lives

belong to farming profession. Precisely, this study deals with specific females lives who are involved

in the farming along with their male partners on their lands. We conduct a field survey and gather data

through snowball sampling, judgmental sampling, and case studied methods. We observe that through

the development of this coal power plant, their farming lands have been occupied, so to make their

living, some of them began to work in rich people houses as maids and rest of them adopted the

tailoring profession in their homes on a very small scale, which in turn reward them with small

amount of wages. So, this study reveals how these developmental actions influence the female’s

prestige, social identity and economy. Given these major social changes, the status and power of

women gradually declined as well.

Keywords: CPEC, coal power plant, female’ farming, social identity, economic class disparities,

agricultural lands, developmental projects


Page | 5

A3 [03]

EXAMINING WOMEN POTTERS IN KUTAHYA THE LEADING CERAMIC

CENTER

O.A. Yuksel

Fine Arts Faculty Ceramic Glass Department, Dumlupinar University, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Kütahya, one of the most important ceramic production centers, in the world and Turkey, has been

continues to produce hand painted decorated tiles and ceramics since 13th century. Today many hand

painted underglaze Kutahya ceramics and tiles take places in many museums all over the World.

Kutahya with remarkable numbers of ceramic studios has very old ceramic history since Ottoman

times. In these studios many woman potters, who have great influence for ceramic producing

development and stability, have been employed. It is very important point that most of woman potters

in Kutahya are uneducated, but the rooted ceramic traditions in the city involve and educate them

easily. This research will show detailed of the Kutahya women potters including their achievements

and the common roles of the ceramic producing process. These roles of women potters will overview

in a frame of biographical and historical inputs by their relationship that continues with their ceramic

traditions which was inherited from generation to generation. The presentation will demonstrate to all

detailed images of woman potters ceramic and tiles producing process and also interviews about their

lives, and professional, artistic developments.

Keywords: ceramic center, Kutahya tiles, woman potters


Page | 6

B1 [04]

CHRISTIAN FEMINISM IN JAPAN – THE CASE OF MUKÔKAI (CHURCHLESS

CHRISTIANITY)

C. Yatabe

Graduate School of Christian Studies, Rikkyo University, Japan

ABSTRACT

This paper explores contemporary approaches to practical faith and activism as held by Christian

women belonging to the Japanese minority movement ,“Churchless Christianity”(Mukyôkai).

It introduces the thought of its founder Kanzô Uchimura (1861-1930) as well as its women’s project

called “Speaking from a woman’s perspective.”Uchimura was a prominent evangelist and pacifist

whose thoughts and biblical commentary had a strong impact on young intellectuals in modern Japan.

With Uchimura’s samurai heritage, the group formed around him was and rocentric and activities of

women were overshadowed by distinguished male members, even though 100-200 women (out of

total 600-800) constantly participated in Uchimura’s Sunday lectures in the early 20th century.

Uchimura called on women to be “modest” and follow men at home, and on men to be “Christian

gentlemen.” On the other hand, to follow the Lord was seen as the ideal attitude of man and woman.

Uchimura taught the same Bible messages to all equally and did not particularly forbid women to

receive higher education. In such a complex religious environment, female members became visible

only quite recently when the word “feminism” started to prevail in society. The above mentioned

project started 1991 and has amazingly spotlighted women’s outstanding works in various professions

and/or activities. Its target gradually expanded to members of other Christian churches and the general

public. This paper introduces some of their stories and analyzes, how the women’s religious

background affected their insights. Additionally, the masculinity taught by Uchimura is questioned

from the viewpoint of women’s empowerment.

Keywords: Christianity in Japan, feminist activism, dialogue, masculinity


Page | 7

B2 [05]

“FAMILY-CENTRISM” IN JAPANESE CHURCHES: HETEROSEXISM,

PATRIARCHY, AND THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL SYSTEM

M. Kudo


ABSTRACT

Many Christian churches around the world have experienced internal conflicts over the issue of

homosexuality for the last few decades. What, then, is the situation of Christian churches in Japan in

respect of the diversity of gender and sexuality? What questions do Japanese feminists and queer

theologians raise in relation to this issue these days? In order to answer the above questions, I would

like to introduce and examine some important arguments made by the Japanese queer theologian

Horie Yuri. Horie is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ), the largest

Protestant denomination in Japan. She is also an openly “lesbian” scholar and activist. In her works,

Horie has repeatedly pointed out that homophobia, misogyny, and heterosexism are still very strong in

Japanese churches. Through her activism as well as scientific works, Horie tries to reveal the

repressive structure of Japanese churches and articulate concrete problems. I will focus on the issue of

“family-centrism” in Japanese churches as well as in Japanese society which Horie considers to be

one of the central issues we need to address.

Keywords: Japan, Christianity, theology, sexuality, gender, heterosexism


Page | 8

B3 [06]

CHRISTIAN FEMINISM IN JAPAN

M. Sonntag


ABSTRACT

This paper explores contemporary approaches of Christian women to theology and practical faith,

focusing on proponents of “Christian feminism” in the broadest sense. Although Japanese Protestant

churches started women’s ordination as early as in 1933 their means of influence on church

administration and political decisions are still very limited. While some women established

independent research and/or mission institutions, others received support from international initiatives

(U.N. or WCC campaigns) pushing gender-balanced action inside the churches. Active women from

Catholic, Anglican and Protestant (UCCJ) backgrounds and their notions of a “feminist/women’s

perspective” will be introduced and analyzed. Struggling to make a difference as a sub-minority of the

religious minority of Christians in Japan they came to realize the importance of interreligious dialogue

with other Japanese women as well as in the broader Asian community. At the same time engagement

in dialogue seems to pose a threat to their theological self-assertion.

Keywords: Christianity in Japan, feminist activism and scholarship, ritual reform, dialogue


Page | 9

B4 [07]

GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS: A COMPARATIVE

ANALYSIS WITH ANCIENT BRAHMAN THOUGHTS, BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

D.M.N.M. Jayarathna

The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Discrimination against women continues to exist in every society from long ago in ancient era. As per

the belief and deep-rooted customs, women’s are considered as a special group which is vulnerable

and weak in many ways. Since this vulnerability often infringe women’s rights. This research seeks to

find out the position acquired by the women under ancient Brahman thoughts, Buddhist Philosophy

and present human rights law. According to that this research attempts to compare gender

discrimination and women’s rights, reviewing literature by using comparative and analytical method.

In ancient history the Brahmin who controlled the society laid down that “ Balye

Pithurvashethishteth- pranigrahasya Yawvane- Puthranambharathareeprethe-

Nabhajethsthriswathanthratham”, women should live under the control of father, husband and son in

young age, middle age and old age respectively. They always kept women under their control and

they had never given any social, cultural, economic freedom to women. However in Buddhist

teaching Supreme Buddha admire her as a nun, mother, wife and female devotee in many sutra and

sermon such as Singhalovada Sutra, Sapthabariya Sutra, Maha Mangala Sutra. Further women

treated similar to men in Buddhism and given equal opportunity without any discrimination. Buddhist

philosophy has not considered the “gender” but the “act” done by any person irrespectively. In

prevailing society since this gender discrimination and violation of women rights are happening

continuously, the United Nations has taken admirable steps and adopted the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights (UDHR)and affirmed that “all human being are born free and equal in dignity and

rights”. Moreover the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and

its Protocol has created a pathway to obtain women’s rights and get remedy for discrimination and

violation of their rights. Even though the Brahmin thoughts lead to create gender discrimination,

interestingly Buddhist Philosophy and present human rights Law allow to achieving women’s rights

without any discrimination.

Keywords: Buddhist philosophy, gender discrimination, rights violation, women rights, vulnerability


Page | 10

C1 [08]

ETHICAL ISSUES IN ADVERTISING: FRAMING OF WOMEN IN TABOO

ADVERTISEMENTS IN PAKISTAN

T. Anwar and J. Mazahir

Bahria University Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Advertisements are a tool of mass communication that draw attention towards the product and the

service provided by the marketers and the sponsors. This research discusses the ethical issues related

to the advertising, with primary focus on portrayal of women in the advertisements of “Taboo”

products in Pakistan. This study investigated the content of the advertisements and product attributes

through Content Analysis with respect to ethics in general and portrayal of women in particular.

Women are being portrayed in certain frames which have ethical and cultural implications of the

same. In addition, the study provides analysis on three products and one campaign that was pertaining

to ethically and morally controversial and offensive in nature. Furthermore, the study will further

identify the important ethical issues that need to be addressed via scholarly research. The concluding

results clearly indicate a very negative portrayal of ethics not pertaining to the culture of the

demographic that is being targeted as consumers.

Keywords: advertisements, women, taboo, framing


Page | 11

C2 [09]

“DEVAL CHAARAN WHO MAKES THE STORY HAPPEN IN THE EPIC OF

PABUJI”

S. Shukla

Faculty of Fine Arts, Manipal University Jaipur, India

ABSTRACT

Whenever evil comes to suppress the earth, the goddess takes human form to destroy it by

precipitating armed conflict. Deval has to help Pabuji throughout the story. There is the relative

strength of Deval and Pabuji: as the constant need for her help suggests, she is much the more

powerful. It may seem curious that the central god is weaker than one of the other deified characters

in this epic. The attitude of mixed feeling towards the goddess symbolizes the way in which she is

regarded, in her various reflections, throughout Rajasthan and, no doubt, far beyond. Deval herself

shares in this ambivalence: she is acting for good of the world, and attempting to resolve cosmic

problem, but she is also the cause of much bloodshed and death. It is significant that she is a chaaran

(woman cowherd), for it still frequently happens that chaaran women come to be regarded as form of

the goddess, often even during their lifetime and are viewed with a mixture of reverence and fear.

Deval is active, powerful and female: she stands very much on the shaiktya side of Hinduism, and she

controls Pabuji, who is a split hero, passive and male, and who is aligned to the Vaishnava faction

through the system of incarnation underlying his story.

In my research paper I am illuminating the significant and powerfulrole of Deval Chaaranias

she is the godlike character in the Epic of Pabuji.

Keywords: epic narrative, Indian folklore, Pabuji, Deval chaarani, god, goddess


Page | 12

C3 [10]

SRI LANKA’S CONTEMPORARY WOMEN ARTISTS: REPRESENTING THE

FEMALE BODY (RE-APPROPRIATION OF GENDER BIASED IMAGES)

M-D. Gil

CNRS Laboratory, University Paris 8, France

ABSTRACT

In 1971, Linda Nochlin famously wondered « Why have there been no great Women Artists? ». In her

groundbreaking essay, she analyzed a systemic situation, which prevented women from competing

with male artists. In my presentation, I plan to analyze how Sri Lankan woman artists are representing

the female bodies. Through Art history, representing women bodies was male artists’ privilege,

leading to an all-masculine outlook on women. This is why representing themselves is a way for

women to reclaim their own history, image and identity. I first intend to study how these artists are

showing the female body interacting in a public space. Women bodies are undeniably focusing points

of tension involving conventions, religions, and culture altogether. Besides, I will look through the

way they show the female body evolving in domestic spaces. This practice allows female artists to

criticize gender disparities in both public and domestic spaces. Then, I will focus my research on their

attempt at representing their « postwar bodies». As a matter of fact, women are the most vulnerable

population in wartimes. When they aesthetically represent them, male artists alternatively depict them

as soothing allegories or war allegories. When representing themselves, female artists bring non-

idealized and suffering women bodies to the public eye. To conclude, I will show how a range of Sri-

Lankan women artists are confronting the effect of colonialism on women with their work. Showing

ethnic women bodies and representing gender fluidity can then be seen as a restorative force against

oppression.

Keywords: gender, women, art, body, post-colonialism


Page | 13

D1 [11]

PROTECTION OF WOMEN HYGIENE AND THE LAWS OF WAR: A CRITICAL

ANALYSIS

E.K. Pandian1 and M.Z.K. Khan2

1 High Court of Madras, Tamilnadu Bar Council, India

2 Department of Law, International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh and Ministry

of Education, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Civilian women are one of the most vulnerable groups during armed conflicts. The history of the war

evinces that, women health and sanitation were never been a concern to the belligerents or too much

to say, poorly understood. For instance, in most of the cases, women who are not taking part in the

hostility, are in critical conditions due to random sexual abuses by the combatants and transformation

of diseases, malnutrition, unhygienic sanitation systems and inadequate health facilities in the conflict

zones and thus requires special care and protection for them. Even though, the Geneva Conventions

and Humanitarian laws stress the ‘responsibility to protect’ the women as noncombatant during

warfare, unfortunately their good health and sanitations have never been spoken off. Especially, the

solicitude of sanitary facilities for the victim women during armed conflicts is still a disregarded

matter to the international law in general and jus in bello in particular. Thus, the objective of this

research paper is to analyze all relevant provisions that stated under international and humanitarian

conventions relating to safety and sanitary facilities of the women in the conflict zones and their

contraventions. This research also highlights the reports of various international organs like Amnesty

International, Human Rights Watch and International Criminal Court cases to prove the vulnerability

of the women sanitation during hostility. The research further stresses the importance of the adoption

of special Conventions for protecting women from unhygienic sanitations in the conflict zones.

Keywords: women, sanitation, armed conflict, good health


Page | 14

D2 [12]

RETELLING CONFLICT: LIVES AND NARRATIVES OF WOMEN IN

NORTHEAST INDIA

S. Daa-dhora

Assam University Diphu Campus, India

ABSTRACT

A region of great diversities torn amidst various conflicts of secessionism, geopolitics and ethnic

divides, the Northeast of India holds a unique history of its own. In any form of conflict the greatest

impact is on the civilians and the soft targets are always the women. This conflict situation has

emerged as a major backdrop in the writings of the region through writers like Mitra Phukan, Temsula

Ao, Aruni Kashyap, Easterine Kire, Mamang Dai, etc. The writers are recreating their threatened past,

tradition and identity using violence, memory and trauma as the major devices in their writings. When

looked into the question of women, the writings focus on the women of the region caught between the

personal and the political issues which question the issues of identity, nation, space, home, nationality,

country, freedom and peace. The definitions of conflict and the idea of freedom exist with violence as

a tactic and as a legitimate and integral part of it. This comes in the form of gendered violence;

increased control over sexuality, freedom and rights, and the traumatic impact beyond measure. This

paper is an attempt to find the various realities put to narration and how history is being interpreted,

questioned and put to life through the radical act of storytelling in writing.

Keywords: conflict/insurgency, violence, women, memory, trauma


Page | 15

D3 [13]

‘FROM INNOCENT VICTIMS TO DANGEROUS ELEMENTS’? THE RISING

TREND OF FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBERS IN NORTHEAST NIGERIA

R. Buba

Department of Political Science, Gombe State University, Gombe State, Nigeria

ABSTARCT

The use of women and children in terrorist activities is no new phenomenon. Increasingly, women and

girls are being recruited by extremist groups and are being radicalized and are exploited by these

violent groups. While women and children have been involved in violent extreminism in Europe,

Middle East, Africa, and other parts of the world, using females as suicide bombers in the ongoing

Boko Haram insurgency is a relatively new trend. Prior to Boko Haram insurgency in North East

Nigeria, women and girls are perceived to be peaceful, soft, vulnerable and less violent within the

society. They are considered nurtures and not destroyers, and also known to be victims of violence.

However, in recent years, the complex nature of women and children’s involvement in this extremist

group has become increasingly apparent. They are no more seeing as victims of extremism, but rather

as perpetrators. Despite these major shifts in the way that society views a woman’s role in political

violence, many within the Nigerian society still considered Political violence to be a man’s work and

therefore, the role of teenage girls within these activities is questionable and surprising. What drives

female suicide bombers? What explains Boko Haram’s female suicide bombers are they innocent

victims or dangerous elements? Using a feminist research, the paper highlights the reasons behind

female participation in suicide bombing in Nigeria. The study is based on secondary sources.

Keywords: female, suicide bombing, Boko Haram


Page | 16

D4 [14]

VIOLENCE AS A SITE OF WOMEN’S AGENCY IN WAR: THE

REPRESENTATION OF FEMALE MILITANTS IN SRI LANKA’S POST-WAR

LITERATURE

T.N.K. Meegaswatta

Department of Languages, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

The increasing visibility of armed women in violent conflicts in the modern world has unsettled

conventional beliefs of inferiority, weakness, innocence, and the resultant fragility and victimhood of

women. Although in theory it is possible to conceptualize armed woman and violence as

empowerment, in practice, the temporal realities that inevitably haunt any discussion of ‘terrorism’

and ‘terrorists’ in conflict ridden polarized societies severely curtail the terminology available to

frame militancy in general and the ‘terror’ it generates as ‘liberatory’. However, fictional and non-

fictional literary work that were published in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s war (1983-2009) seem to

push the boundaries of the discourse on women, violence, and terror. This paper analyzes the

representation of armed women in The Seasons of Trouble (Mohan, 2014), Island of a Thousand

Mirrors (Munaweera, 2014), Tamil Tigress (De Soyza, 2013), and Thiyunu Asipathaka Sevana Yata

(trans.) (Jeyakumaran, 2016) with the assumption that the genres of auto/biography and fiction offer

an alternative archive within which seemingly polarized ‘truths’ entrenched in nationalist conflicts

can be explored in their nuanced complexity. This paper assesses how literary portrayals of female

militancy vis-à-vis violence, empowerment, and victimhood challenge conventional history and

narratives and, in doing so, contribute to expand the boundaries of our understanding of female

militancy in times of violent conflict. In conclusion, this paper suggests that the location of violence

and female militancy within an ambivalent space of agency in narrative literature may also entail an

unsettling of conventional figurations of war in gendered terms.

Keywords: post-war, literature, representation, female militants, violence, women, agency


Page | 17

E1 [15]

WOMEN WRITE NEW YORK CITY

M. Tombro

The Fashion Institute of Technology, The State University of New York, United States

ABSTRACT

Inspired by Rebecca Solnit’s remapping of NYC to represent the women who shaped its narrative,

this paper examines women’s contributions to the creation of NYC as literary construct through

analysis of their writings on literature, art and activism. No city has been more anthologized as subject

and inspiration. Popularized narratives construct our experience of the city and NYC has been a

historically popular topic and setting for many great works of literature. Despite this, women who

write about the city, especially women of color and first generation Americans have been vastly

underrepresented as creators of the city’s literary landscape. Popular books fail to focus on the vast

array of women’s voices that have contributed to the creation NYC as preeminent center for literary

production. This paper seeks to disrupt and redirect that canon by highlighting works by women

responsible for important cultural production related to the city and its boroughs. My work identifies

the way women have formed and contributed to these narratives, how their stories have been

celebrated, forgotten, anthologized or gone relatively unheard. The city is considered as character and

setting and I will demonstrate how the celebration of women’s contributions and narratives come to

play in our understanding of the city as a whole.

Keywords: writing, women, New York City, culture, remapping, canon


Page | 18

E2 [16]

SACKS OF MUTILATED BREASTS: VIOLENCE AND BODY POLITICS IN

PARTITION LITERATURE

N-T. Antonia

University of Cordoba, Spain

ABSTRACT

The partition narratives of South Asian authors are testimony to the fact that women of all ethnic and

religious backgrounds were the greatest victims of the newly created border between India and

Pakistan in 1947. Women’s bodies were abducted, stripped naked, raped, mutilated (their breasts cut

off), carved with religious symbols and murdered to be sent in train wagons to the “other” side of the

border. Taking Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel Ice Candy Man/Cracking India (1988) as a narrative example of

the importance of women’s point of view and as central figures of the violent conflict, we will

examine the symbol of the female breasts, following Judith Butler’s and Michel Foucault’s theories

on power and govern mentality, framed in the rhetoric of Mother India, as the violence inflicted upon

women was equivalent to a sacrilege against one’s religion, family and country. Therefore, we will

examine the passage of sacks of mutilated breasts as a terrifying testimonial about Partition history

fictionally recalled, but also as a metaphor of the border crossing which threatens the stability of the

nation. In the light of Julia Kristen’s theory on the abjection, we will interpret the female corpses with

mutilated breasts as abject which blur the limits of a normative society, displaying its fragility. We

will conclude by asserting that the novel discussed in this paper can be read as a harsh indictment of

both a violent de/colonial process and local misogynist corruption (lessons from History) as well as a

weapon of feminist resistance (doing Her story). Women’s mutilated bodies are uncovered by authors

such as Bapsi Sidhwa in order to expose the tragedy and trauma so that the history/body dialectic (a

tale of the violation of women’s rights) can be, as a consequence, also uncovered.

Keywords: trauma, resilience, abjection, healing, Bapsi Sidhwa, Mother India


Page | 19

E3 [17]

ECO-FEMINISM AND INDIAN LITERATURE

P. Pandya

Post Graduate Department of Gujarati, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar,

Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

The term ‘eco-feminism’ was coined by the French writer Françoise d’Eaubonne in her book, le

f’eminismeou la Mort (1974). The term deals with feminism and eco-criticism.’ Feminist criticism

examines language and literature from a gender conscious perspective. ‘Eco-criticism seeks to

evaluate texts and ideas in terms of their coherence and usefulness as a response to environmental

crisis’1.it takes a nature-centred approach to literary studies. ‘Eco-criticism is the study of the

relationship between literature and the physical environment.’2 Eco-feminism connects the

exploitation and domination of women and nature by men. It relates radical feminism and cultural

feminism. Eco- feminism grew during the 1980S and 1990s among the women from the anti-nuclear

and the environment movement. According to Mery Mellor’ it emerged in the 1970s alongside the

second-wave feminism and the green movement.’3

An Indian woman’s writing, especially after independent (1947) has been viewed as a powerful

medium of feminism. Indian women writers in the present era have begun to voice their concerns on

urbanization in India and its impact on gender as well as the environment.

The paper seeks the women’s relationship with the nature Indian literature. The metaphorical use of

nature, sensuous beauty of nature, nature as background, nature contrasted with man, the indifference

of nature had been written by writers as a subject in previous literature. But the utilisation of nature,

nature and planet earth, nature and pollution, problem of climate change are topics of the

contemporary Indian literature.

Keywords: eco criticism, feminism, eco feminism, chipco movement, contemporary Indian literature


Page | 20

E4 [18]

PORTRAYAL OF LESBIAN CHARACTERS IN FICTIONAL NARRATIVES: AN

ANALYSIS USING ADRIENNE RICH’S CONCEPT OF LESBIAN CONTINUUM

AND EXISTENCE

M. Moses

Silliman University, Philippines

ABSTRACT

The fluidity of gender and sexualities has never been much emphasized than now. In this age of

constant changes, an issue that demands much attention and that is hard to ignore is gender expression

and sexuality. The non-heterosexual and non-cisgender identities and advocacy of legalising such

identities and relationships are much discussed topics in the academe as well as in the socio-political

world. And certainly literature has asserted its important role in reflecting that reality and most times

has functioned as a cornerstone for political movements in gender rights. This paper analyses two

novels, Jane Rule’s Desert of the Heart and Sara Farizan’s If You Could Be Mine to find out if the

lesbian characters portrayed in the stories are empowered individually in their lives because of their

sexual orientation. I use Adrienne Rich’s seminal concepts such as “Lesbian Existence” and “Lesbian

Continuum” as the base to find if women characters designed in fiction reflect the traits that Rich talks

about in her essay, “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence”.

Keywords: women in fiction, lesbianism, heterosexuality, third world lesbians, first world lesbians,

women empowerment


Page | 21

E5 [19]

THE ‘SCHOLAR AS ACTIVIST’: POSTCOLONIAL FEMINIST FILM PRACTICE

AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL, DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND

RESISTANCE

S. Moodley


ABSTRACT

The findings of my recently completed PhD project - which proposes a postcolonial feminist film

practice for social development, empowerment and resistance – has revealed that participatory video,

a necessarily self-reflexive filmmaking practice, offers the potential to both generate and share

knowledge through a collaborative process. My paper, in providing a brief overview of the study,

which drew on the participation of South African Hindu women, argues for a combination of

autoethnography and participatory video as the two main components of the postcolonial feminist film

practice. The autoethnographic approach lends itself to the argument for a more socially embedded

scholar who occupies the role of both researcher/teacher and participant in the process of knowledge

dissemination and creation. Autoethnography together with participatory video encourages greater

self-reflexivity in a process where the roles of scholar and participant become interchangeable, and

questions of social context and positionality are raised during the process of storytelling. Drawing on

the films, that were produced by both the female participants in my research and myself, I will exhibit

clips that show how the applied filmmaking practice holds the possibility for dynamic and creative

ways of capturing and representing the stories of both women (and people in general) in socially,

economically and politically oppressed contexts (be it through documentary, fiction films, co-

constructed narratives). The results of which hold the potential for social change and awareness,

learning beyond the boundaries of the institution and agency for those whose stories are given

expression.

Keywords: self-reflexivity, autoethnography, feminist filmmaking, postcolonial, participatory video


Page | 22

E6 [20]

GENDER ANALYSIS IN KOKKILAI LAGOON1 REGION

B.J. Rasanen

University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

This case study summarizes a gender analysis2 conducted from Jan 2017 to June 2017 to assess

gender dynamics in households of the Kokkilai lagoon region3 of Sri Lanka. The research is based on

the primary data collection and analysis using a gender sensitive mixed participatory methodology.

The findings have brought that the deep-rooted negative social, cultural and religious practices that

affect access to equal share in resources, assets, activities, using space for productivity, marketing and

household resilience. Women who are more empowered are more articulate and able to exercise their

rights and influence critical decisions relative to their lives in their homes, communities and wider

institutional structures. The need for a multi-stakeholder ecosystem approach that considers the

diverse interests and roles of all involved, and most importantly, places gender equity at the center.

Keywords: gender analysis, Kokkilai lagoon, livelihood management, gender equity

1Kokkilai lagoon falls within two districts namely Mullaithevu in the Northern Province and

Trincomalee in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

2 Gender analysis is an assessment with the information on women, men, girls and boys in terms of

their division of labor, roles and responsibilities, access to and control over resources and their

relative condition and position in society. It is undertaken to ensure that development projects and

programs fully incorporate the roles, needs and participation of all without excluding anybody.

3 Kokkilai lagoon is 6th by area content out of 45 lagoons in Sri Lanka and it covers an area of 53.491

square kilometers and it is in the Dry Zone and it is fourth rank in Watershed 1,233 square kilometers

out of 45 lagoons in Sri Lanka according to a research by Silva et al, 2013.

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Books/PDF/lagoons_of_sri_lanka-from_the_origins_to_the_present.pdf

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Books/PDF/lagoons_of_sri_lanka-from_the_origins_to_the_present.pdf


Page | 23

E7 [21]

DECONSTRUCTING THEORY-PRACTICE: RE-THINKING METHODOLOGY

S. Kriti

Ambedkar University, Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

This paper is based on an ‘action research’ in Mardapoti (a largely Gond adivasi village in

Chhattisgarh, India) on the gender-labor continuum in household spaces, where I along with a group

of young women and men re-thought research as co-research with community (and not on

community), methodology (as actioning research and researching action) in the context of

transforming the extant structure of the sexual division of labor. We together deconstructed the

problem of scarcity of water to arrive at the underlying problem of labor sharing among women and

men. Through the mixed group of young women and men, we tried to re-orient the young men to

participate in household labor (especially that of fetching water from faraway sources). Such

experience of immersion (not fieldwork) in community contexts and the practice of engendering labor

sharing in household spaces brought me to the threshold of questioning existing set of methodologies;

or perhaps the questioning of methodologies brought me to practice. The over determined experience

of ‘knowing the researched’ and the ‘being of the researcher’ are perhaps not enough for a

methodology to be feminist; one perhaps needed to engage in transformative social praxis with

women (and men); one needed to engage collaboratively with the community in the researching of the

problem and the actioning of research findings for a feminist future (in this case the question of labor

sharing).This paper shall argue that such a feminist methodology also calls for a questioning of the

strict compartmentalization of disciplines, which has also made me (re)think binaries like natural

science/social science, fact/value, objective/subjective and so on.

Keywords: action research, gender-labor, immersion, feminist methodology, praxis


Page | 24

E8 [22]

BIOLOGY AS POLITICS IN GENDER SIGNIFICATIONS: A STUDY OF TONY

MORRISON’S THE BLUEST EYES

S.M. Vanamala

Sir M. Vishweswariah Post- Graduate Centre, Mandya, University of Mysore, India

ABSTRACT

The concept of gender and the related practices are born at the intersection of biology and politics.

Biological markers; physical, physiological and psychological are politicized for hierarchical

positioning of man and woman. The nexus between biology and politics has also generated the notion

of ‘immutability’ of woman’s ‘gendered self’. Women too, having interiorized the inferiority of the

self unquestioningly have shown little inclination to redefine her-‘self’. The inability for better ‘self’

definition is also due to the failure to distinguish the exact point of confluence between biology and

politics in the socially ascribed gender identities. Caught in the imbroglio woman has suffered

crippled social and psychological consequences and the same is well substantiated in the novel The

Bluest Eye by African American writer Tony Morrison. The women characters in the novel are

paradigms of real life situations. While some do acutely suffer from social and psychological

deprivation having interiorized the inferiority of their biological markers, others handle affirmatively

the socially ascribed deprivations of their physical self by understanding the nexus between biology

and politics. The novel successfully explores the fact that distinct anatomical difference between man

and woman or the biological identities of humans should not be the cause or source of discriminatory

practices. Or in other words the novel denies the inferiority of woman as something hermetically

sealed and that social factors; advantages of birth (like race and social class), socio-cultural pressures,

cultivation of mental culture and many more are of great consequence for both the formation of

‘positive self- identity’ by woman and for challenging of gender significations.

Keywords: biology and politics, biological markers, social ascription, gender significations, social and

psychological deprivation, ‘identity’ formation


Page | 25

F1 [23]

AN INSIGHT TO WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION FOR FOSTERING FEMALE

CAREERS IN SRI LANKAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

V. Srivishagan and R. Thalpage

Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Matara, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

With the rapid growth of new technologies in present global market, the human skills and knowledge

also should be increased. Nowadays Sri Lankan construction industry is facing with technical and

managerial skill shortages and capacity problems of workers. The ‘women in construction’ is a topic

concerned by many nations since many years. With above rapid growth, there is a slight increment in

the number of females working in construction field, but still it is a very low contribution when

compared with other fields as manufacturing, administrative or academic. As per the Sri Lankan

vocational education reports, though there are around 40% of female students enrolled in local

technical colleges, over 70% of them are applying for nontechnical and culturally accepted feminine

courses as home science, dressmaking, beauty culture and secretarial courses. Further, since there is

always a gender differentiate in the local industry, women are significantly low represented in

technical fields as construction and there are some factors affecting for them as social status about the

job, body nature not supports the construction hard works, male staff behaviors and gender barriers in

industry. Thus, this research is aimed to recommend the probable approaches to foster female careers

in Sri Lankan construction industry with the objectives for identifying the importance of women in

constructions and the barriers towards them. A quantitative research approach was adopted for

attaining the research aim while conducting questionnaire survey with 100 participants who are

engaged with the local construction industry. The findings were analyzed to list out the most

significant barriers for the women in construction and it was recommended several drivers to foster

female carriers in local construction industry.

Keywords: construction, Sri Lankan, women, importance, barriers, foster


Page | 26

F2 [24]

PLURALIZING DISCOURSES: MULTINATIONALS AND GENDER EQUALITY

M.V.F.C. Leite

Ius Gentium Conimbrigae – Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra, Portugal

ABSTRACT

The present article investigates the impact of multinational corporations in the concept of gender

equality. According to legal pluralism theory, in every society, two or more legal systems not

belonging to a single ‘system’ coexist. It is, however, unknown to what extent non-state actors

contribute to the ‘bending and breaking’ of rules in legal systems that are inherently pluralistic in the

juristic sense. Although, the use of the language of rights has grown rapidly amongst development

policy and practice, the rhetoric of formal rights as advocated by international development bodies

have not always improved the everyday reality, in particular those of historically marginalised

women. This is because public policies geared towards social justice have no effect if not inserted into

a wider culture of political measures for positive change. In this sense, an empirical examination is

proposed to understand the role exerted by multinational corporations in the development and

implementation of International Human Rights Law by focusing on the concept of gender equality. It

relies of legal pluralism theories combined with critical discourse analysis to map the processes

associated with the transformation of key terms and their meanings. It attempts to understand the

nuances in the use of human rights-based discourses by the three different multinationals, and their

relation to the de-politicisation of the wider human rights movement.

Keywords: gender equality, legal pluralism, critical discourse analysis, multinational corporations


Page | 27

F3 [25]

ERADICATION OF PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION & INSTITUTION OF

GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORK PLACE: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

S.A. Caygill

Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kothelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

With the very swift development of the human rights, fond of society to create an unimpeded dialog

concerning their individual rights has been expanded; thus the rights of women stole the limelight due

to the inherited lacunas in procedures and high number of un-redressed areas, it bears. As per the

definitions provided by CAAWS (Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport &

physical activities) “Gender Equity” is the process of allocating resources, programs, and decision

making, fairly to both males and females. In contrast, “Gender Equality” is the process of allocating

resources, programs, and decision makings so that males and females can have the same. Briefly,

Equality focuses on creating the same start line for everyone whilst Equity has the goal of

conveyancing everyone to the same finish line, proves the difference of two concepts. Gender equality

at work place, precisely the protection of women’s employment rights with null sexual harassment or

degrading is one component that fertilizes the seed of “gender equality” subsequently the domestic

legal framework (Constitutional guarantees, Penal Code, Industrial Dispute Act, Bribery Act, Shop

and Office Employees Act, Maternity Benefits Ordinance, Sri Lanka bureau of Foreign employment

ordinance, Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act) and the international

instruments (ILO standards, CEDW, ICESR, ICCPR, Banjul Charter article 62 of African Charter on

Human Rights and Peoples’ rights) would nourish and nurse these mechanisms. This research

primarily focuses on addressing the dilemma of gender/sex discrimination at work place which leads

to pregnancy discrimination in employment. Moreover the conflict between ‘black letters’ ( de jure)

and ‘realities’( de facto) will be summarized to emphasize the inefficiency of conceived legal

enactments which lack harmonization with the biological theories of gender differences and

sociological accounts of patriarchy. In order to wear away the ideology of ‘male breadwinner’, de-

traditionalization of practice is necessary to locate the concept ‘dual breadwinner’ in a more favorable

cultural & religious climate since Sri Lanka is a multicultural museum, thus conflicting. Hence the

cultural and religious conceptualism will be discussed. lastly, this research seeks to identify feasible

gap filling movements in order to establish a win-win situation for all religions and communities with

a unique model by avoiding duplication of international law codes.

Keywords: gender equity, gender equality, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination,

employment, sexual harassment


Page | 28

F4 [26]

STRENGTHENING AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN

INFORMAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NORTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI

LANKA (SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP)

V. Sinnathamby1 and J.S. Paramananthan2

1Department of Management of Technology, Faculty of Business, University of Moratuwa,

Sri Lanka

2Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri

Lanka

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Entrepreneurship is a startup process of designing, launching and running a new venture or business.

Women constitute 50.7% of the population in Sri Lanka, but their active participation towards

economy is relatively low. Due to three decades of ethnic conflict, communities lost their health,

wealth and valuable human souls, especially most of the families lost their breadwinners, which create

a significant amount of widows, and women headed families in the war-affected areas of Northern &

Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. Encouraging Informal Women Entrepreneurship is much vital

concept, in order to enhance their livelihood and regional development. Many non-governmental,

public and private financial institutions launched variety of livelihood income generating projects,

which created multiple challenges to the affected women than a successful livelihood support.

Women are present in every part of local value chains—as producers and business owners, executives

and employees, distributors, and consumers. With globalization and advances in communications

technologies, value chains have helped unlock opportunities for women around the world to

participate more fully in formal labor markets and access products and services to improve their

wellbeing. Accelerating women in the value chain presents an incredible opportunity to not only

improve the lives of people making, selling, and buying products, but also to ensure more stable and

efficient supply chains, draw on a diverse pool of talent, and reach new consumer segments, which

influence financial performance and long-term business resilience. It will leads to cost savings and

productivity, innovation, and market growth. This study mainly reveals the challenges faced by

women entrepreneurs and recommend a practical solution. The key finding is to design a feasible

model with ways and means of women entrepreneurship, their own strategies and leadership styles,

which leads a successful sustainable business.

Problem statement/Research argument

Problems faced by women entrepreneurs in Nepal and Sri Lanka are mainly on low access to credit

and marketing networks; lack of access to land and property; reduced risk taking capacity; lack of

access to modern technology; lack of personal security and risk of sexual harassment; severe


Page | 29

competition in domestic and international markets; low level of self-confidence; and social and

cultural barriers of exclusive responsibility for household work with restrictions on mobility (ADB

Report, 1999). Initial investment to start a business is the greatest constraint facing all women

entrepreneurs in the North and East of Sri Lanka due to lack of funds. Mostly the loans were disposed

for projects such as the setting up of a small provision shop, cattle-farming, goat-rearing, poultry-

farming, agricultural farming, paddy cultivation, vegetable farming, tailoring and food processing.

The Centre for Women’s Development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) has in its proposals the setting up

of a power loom, lingerie factory and food processing plant but this would require a few million

rupees and the idea has hence been shelved until they find a source for international funding.

Research Methodology

Literature review of selected case studies and In-depth Interview with five women entrepreneurs.

Further, a Focus Group Discussions (FDG) will be conduct in all Districts in Northern Province on

challenges faced by women entrepreneurs; their success and failure stories/case studies; capacity

building assessment and institutional (market and finance) network. The in-depth interviews focused

on five women entrepreneurs involved in five different entrepreneurial ventures such as i) banana

plantation ii) poultry farming; iii) retail grocery shop; iv) retail stitched garments shop and v) food

processing. From the literature review, we have reviewed and summarized few samples taken by

scholars and researchers explore the practical aspects of women entrepreneurs’ needs and their

problems to the view of advocacy levels of Public and Private financial sectors of Sri Lanka who

could foster their sustainable growth and contribute towards the GDP. Further, this study will analyze

few viable tool kits to create vehicles as a women’s business center one-stop-shop, “life center” or

women’s business incubator.

Expected key findings and conclusions

Our preliminary study revealed on that majority of the women entrepreneurs needs a structured

entrepreneurship training. Training conduced at present were neither regular nor structured, but on an

ad-hoc basis and the greatest bottleneck is Tamil language. Further, entrepreneurial skills of women,

manage and develop new and existing ventures, lack of technical and technological knowledge,

especially on book-keeping and computer skills; use of the information technology such as to shorten

business processes, improve product quality, improve customer service and increase marketability of

the product/service; and quality improvement. Recognition of the women entrepreneur is the most

critical factor since it is an important unit contributing towards the economic growth. Support from

Government and Aid agencies are important special value addition; marketing; financing; soft skill

development; strategic plan; flexible business training; and quality improvement towards

sustainability. In addition, the growth-oriented women entrepreneurs eager to know how to build

successful business partnerships, networks and enter new markets through trade fairs; business

forums; conferences; research studies; knowledge sharing, and create jobs etc. The misfortune of war

must not be the reason for depriving these women entrepreneurs of a better life.


Page | 30

F5 [27]

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT: CASE STUDIES

FROM INDIA

S. Kumar

School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India

ABSTRACT

Within the South Asian nations development work has several participating stakeholders. Of which

the state, civil society organisations, international development agencies all have played a crucial role

in shaping development policies and addressing poverty. With the rapid globalization processes in

countries in South Asia especially India, poverty as a key issue seems to have lost its relevance.

Simultaneously state’s responsibility for provisioning social security for its citizens is being pushed

back in its policy agenda. The resultant economic changes because of liberalization and ensuing

opening of markets, has drastically impacted the hitherto protected traditional social enterprises. India

has a rich history of social enterprises, which are intimately connected to the socio-economic and

cultural fabric of the diverse communities. These have evolved out of traditional work like

embroidery, weaving, brassware and such others, which were intimately entrenched in social relations

of the particular region. Women have been intrinsically part of these social enterprises as informal

workers. Many of these enterprises have had to change the ways in which they do business andmove

towards profit oriented processes and designs to match with competition in the market. With the push

for more homogenized products and production of scale women are finding themselves being pushed

out of such traditional work. Because of their inability to adapt to the new forms of mechanization and

required skills they are forced into jobs, which require manual labour with lower wages and dignity.

This paper is going to examine these aspects using case studies of old and new social enterprises.

Keywords: women, informal work, social enterprises, globalization and liberalization


Page | 31

F6 [28]

EXPLORATION OF WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT THROUGH THE

DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL CLASS AND RACE

R.J. Abeywardena

University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of workplace sexual harassment, although has existed since men and women began

working together in some form or the other, it was largely ignored until the late 1970’s (Wise &

Stanley, 1987). My dissertation investigates sexual harassment that occurs in the workplace through

the lenses of social class, power relations and race. Through interviews with five women, their

interpretation of their experiences in the respective workplaces are analysed through a three-way

coding process. Findings highlight that sexual harassment is common in male dominated

organisations. In addition, those who has a tenuous link with the organisation tends to be sexually

harassed, in a similar vein, women who have worked for a substantial period of time are less likely to

be sexually harassed. Sexualised behaviours were seen as ‘banter’ by women when experienced

amongst a group of colleagues, however the same type of encounters were perceived as sexual

harassment when experienced on an individual level. The results have shown that all the five

participants were sexually harassed by men who had formal organisational authority or informal

sources of power i.e. influence at work/longer duration of employment in the organisation. Therefore

power dynamics will remain to be a central factor in studies of workplace sexual harassment. In terms

of policy, sexual harassment were more likely to take place in workplaces where their stance on the

issue is uncertain i.e. not having policies to address sexual harassment. Implications for organisations

are discussed along with recommendation for future research.

Keywords: sexual harassment, power, sexual coercion, gender, intersectionality, organization


Page | 32

F7 [29]

THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILL AND

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG YOUTH IN SRI LANKA

P. Pretheeba and S. Vijayapala

Eastern University, Sri Lanka, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

In the contemporary competitive and dynamic environment, entrepreneurs are considered as national

asset to be nurtured and encouraged to the greatest possible to reduce the global crisis of youth

unemployment. Even though there are number of studies carried out connected to entrepreneurial

intention, there is a dearth of studies exist concerned to entrepreneurial intention among youth in Sri

Lanka. The preferment towards women entrepreneurship has accelerated radically, though the rates of

women entrepreneurs remain significantly lower than men. This study attempts to narrow the gap in

the literature by examining the youth entrepreneurial skills and their intentions to become as

entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and the gender differences in entrepreneurial skill. Study was carried out

by a survey method, using a questionnaire, 4 – point Likert scale, targeted a sample of 500 youth from

selected Vocational Training Centre in Sri Lanka employing a systematic sampling method.

Eventually the sample ends up with 402 usable responses. The result of the survey reveals that there

are 152 males and 250 female which is 37.8% and 62.3 % respectively. Further it reveals that there is

no significant difference between male and female with regard to entrepreneurial intention. Both

genders have high level of entrepreneurial intention, despite the fact that the gender has significant

difference on Perseverance and Destin subscales of aptitude and attitude respectively. The paper

contributes to the literature by theorizing and empirically testing how attitude and aptitude affect the

entrepreneurial intention of youth in Sri Lanka.

Keywords: entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial skill, attitude, aptitude, gender, unemployment


Page | 33

F8 [30]

PERSPECTIVE OF WOMEN’S ROLE & GENDER EQUALITY ISSUE IN

ENGINEERING BASED COMPANY (A STUDY IN MHE-DEMAG BRANCHES

LOCATED IN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE)

P. Victor

The London School of Public Relations – Jakarta, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Women’s role and the issue of gender equality have been in the spotlight of discussion for years, the

fact that both factors are still become the focus of discussions all over the world reflect the urgency of

this topic. Narrowing down the scale of discussion, this research focuses in three countries such as

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore which are internationally known as the “Growth Triangle of South

East Asia” and will explore the regional scale of network in MHE-Demag, one of the leading

engineering companies in South East Asia. Despite the data where most of females were in the

engineering study during their degree, there are gap between the number of graduates in engineering

and the real engineers itself. Therefore, the objectives of this research are mainly to: 1). Identify on

how company management perceives female participation in the engineering position, 2). Study the

background factors on why the number of female engineers is very low compared to the men

engineers at these three countries, 3). Identify whether different country cultures have an effect in

shaping the corporate culture. This research uses five organizational communications performance

under the organizational culture theory to explore the condition by implementing depth interview

targeted to the decision makers in the company located in the countries, the human resources

managers and the facility managers.

Keywords: gender, equality, engineering, women, gender role


Page | 34

F9 [31]

WOMEN AS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES

K. Vallath

Total English Solutions (TES), Trivandrum, India

ABSTRACT

It is imperative for the progress of any society that women become independent and productive.

Social entrepreneurship of women, in both developed and developing nations, holds tremendous

promise for economic growth and prosperity. It is in the hands of women that businesses develop into

their full potential as extended social service, focusing more on empowering women in the society, on

education and in addressing the needs of the children, the disabled and the needy. I have been a

successful entrepreneur for the past twenty years, teaching English Language and Literature to adult

communities comprising mostly of women from across India, and pioneering and propagating

educational and entrepreneurial innovations. Over these years, running the largest finishing school for

university students of English literature in the country, I have also been considerably creative in this

area, exploring the various possibilities of entrepreneurial innovation and educational innovation. To

make the study of literature an all-encompassing life activity for the learners, I have merged my

teaching with associated business ventures such as a literature merchandise shop, a web-inspired book

publishing company, a gaming club, a travel company, and so on. From the vantage point of an

educationist who has combined traditional teaching with entrepreneurship, I propose to examine in

my paper the opportunities and challenges I faced as a social entrepreneur and on social

entrepreneurship of women at large.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship, education, women empowerment, innovation, sustainable

businesses


Page | 35

F10 [32]

WOMAN AS AN IMAGE IN WAR PROPAGANDA POSTERS

E.E.K. Bog

Dumlupınar University, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Woman figure as an image can be seen often in most of the places from advertising to graphic design

products with the examples that are using the attached social roles of woman. In these examples, the

woman is sometimes confronted with sexy and impassionate position that is remain in the forefront of

femininity, sometimes with the role of mother and a housewife. Especially during the World War I

and II, in the posters designed for war propaganda, this is totally go beyond the ordinary situation and

the roles of man tried to impose on to the woman. In the war propaganda posters, the image of woman

undertaken different roles with the support of semi-masculine, brave and strong characteristics. The

women are encouraged about that they have a capability to do every work that man can do and

convinced about that they can take over the men’s job who were fighting in the battle. In this essay,

the war propaganda posters examined deeply in terms of societal and social within the woman image.

This is important not only it forms a basis content of social message differentiated according to

periodical needs of woman images, but also it provides the roots of extensive consciousness of

feminism, the economic power of woman and the equality of women and men in the world.

Keywords: war posters, propaganda, poster design, the image of woman, society roles, feminism


Page | 36

G1 [33]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN BANGLADESH: AN ANALYSIS

FROM CRIMINOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

K.F. Rahman

Department of Criminology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

In Bangladesh, being in a patriarchal society, powerlessness and vulnerability is associated with

women’s lives where they are dominated and subjugated by the men. Women are often controlled by

father, husband and son in different phases of their lives and because of this; a woman commonly has

risk of experiencing domestic violence within her family. Though Bangladesh is experiencing

relatively high level of gender equality in South Asia, still it is not very surprising that the husband is

more likely to assault and/or batter his educated/financially solvent wife if she fails to meet his

demands or to perform household work. Domestic violence often takes place in form of physical

aggression or threats, sexual and emotional abuse, stalking, passive/covert abuse, and economic

deprivations. Bangladesh Government has passed the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection)

Act of 2010 for the protection of women and children from family violence and discrimination.

However, we observe that in spite of having many legal protections of women in the society, this form

of violence is still continuing and in some cases are increasing day by day. The paper against this

background will analyse the reasons of domestic violence from a criminological perspective. Again it

will critically analyse the national and international legal protection for the victims; and the

compliance procedure by the state. The methodology includes a wide literature review on the issue of

domestic violence. Additionally face to face interviews with victims, perpetrators, law enforcing

agencies, lawyers and judges will be conducted to collect data with a view to conceptualising

domestic violence in context of Bangladesh.

Keywords: women, domestic violence, national law


Page | 37

G2 [34]

THE TABOO OF SEX WITHIN GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: LOCALISING THE

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM IN CAMBODIA

E.C. Robertson

University of Melbourne, Australia

ABSTRACT

The Gender and Development (GAD) paradigm emerged out of decades of concerted effort by

theorists, practitioners and feminists. GAD has attempted to bring women as individuals into the

development institution and while this has no doubt contributed to considerable advances in women’s

access to education, health care and employment, it has yet to greatly affect gender based violence

(GBV). GBV continues to plague development despite GAD’s best efforts. Recent research suggests

that this may be linked to the paradigm’s inability to address female sexuality in and of itself. Female

sex and sexuality continues to be a taboo at global and local levels of GAD, where sex is relegated to

a public health issue instead of treated as a fundamental aspect of human experience. In this way,

women continue be to constructed within the GAD institution as passively sexual beings. In nine

semi-structured interviews with local GAD actors in Cambodia, the immediacy of this issue became

apparent. Not only do these experts recognize the importance of addressing female sexuality, but are

acutely aware of how their positionality both enables and constrains their ability to adequately broach

this issue. During approximately one month of study in Phnom Penh, I conducted interviews with

Cambodian GAD actors of any gender working for Cambodian-run organisations. Drawing upon this

feminist-oriented research, this paper argues that the omission of female sexuality from GAD is a root

cause of persistent GBV.

Keywords: female sexuality, development, gender based violence


Page | 38

G3 [35]

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN EXTREME SETTINGS: REMOTENESS,

RESISTANCE, AND RECOVERY

A. Ahmad1, J. Mannell2 and G. Shannon2

1St Georges University of London, United Kingdom

2University College London, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

Incidents of GBV are typically analysed in terms of the nature and form of the violence, partly in

terms of developing preventative measures, gaining insight into the patterns of unequal gender norms

across the globe, and for health interventions to response to both physical and psychological trauma.

However, situations of GBV are much more encompassing and represent multiple ontologies and

narratives. We take three contexts of GBV drawn from our areas of expertise. These are areas that will

be explained as extreme settings; again, the challenge is to bring analysis of how we define a context

into question. Our three case stories are the Peruvian Amazon, Afghanistan, and Rwanda – all of

which present significant challenges for GBV prevention and response. Our framework develops a

critique that draws the focus towards GBV, rather than using GBV as the core starting point. Using

the parameters of remoteness, resistance and recovery, respectively, for the Peruvian Amazon,

Afghanistan and Rwanda we highlight under-explored nuances of these extreme settings. We use our

framework to talk about the ways a wider socio-cultural, ecological, and phenomenological landscape

of GBV shapes our understanding of who is affected. The case stories help further our understanding

of those who experience GBV by illustrating ways that such individuals are interconnected and

dynamic within their societies. In other words, GBV is not redundant; by navigating the environment

that creates spaces for GBV, alternative discourses offer opportunities for adaptations and advocacies

that promote the structure of non-violent communities.

Keywords: writing, template, sixth, edition, self-discipline, good


Page | 39

G4 [36]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: PUBLIC REACTIONS AND STRATEGIC

INTERVENTIONS

S.A.M. Idris1, N.F.M. Nizar1, K.A. Rasip1, N.N.A. Aziz1 and R.K.R.M. Khalid2

1Johor Empowerment of Intellectual Women Association, Ministry of Women, Family and

Society Development, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

2Department of Women’s Development, Ministry of Women, Family and Society

Development, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This paper was prepared as part of the Domestic Violence (DV) Against Women Research Project

conducted by JEIWA’s Research and Development (R&D) with the support of Department of

Women’s Development in Johor, Malaysia. The paper seeks to explore the factors that contribute to

the public reactions to DV against woman and strategic interventions in increasing public awareness.

Violence against women deprives women of their right to fully take part in social and economic life.

It causes a myriad of physical and mental health issues. An extensive investigation of related literature

and in-depth interview with DV survivors are employed for this purpose. The perspective of Socio-

Cultural Integration will be discussed to describe several attitudes and behaviors. The findings from

this research could help policy makers, authorized agencies and non-governmental organizational

leaders to strategize and adequately craft a suitable and high impact program that suits the target

groups' needs and lifestyle.

Keywords: domestic violence; reactions; victims; perpetrators; violent behaviour


Page | 40

G5 [37]

ACTION RESEARCH: SURVEY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE NALLUR

TEMPLE FESTIVAL, JAFFNA, SRI LANKA, AUGUST 2017

S. Selvaratnam

Independent Researcher, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Men attending the annual Nallur Temple festival in Jaffna, Sri Lanka routinely perpetrate sexual

harassment against women, according to local women’s rights activists. During August 2017 a survey

was conducted at the festival to look at the perceptions and attitudes of those perpetuating harassment

- and also those experiencing it. The intention was to create a reflective, non judgmental space in

order to investigate this usually taboo topic with a randomly selected sample of the public (34 women

and 8 men agreed to take part in the survey). Half of the young men interviewed said they harassed

women at the festival and the other half reported seeing other men harassing women at the festival.

The types of harassment included: comments about women’s bodies, clothing, skin tone, following

women, rubbing their bodies against women, making sexually explicit comments, making physically

vulgar gestures, touching, pinching or gabbing women. All of the men reported that they felt

harassment was wrong, and half of them described it as psychologically harmful for the person

experiencing it. During the interview process it became clear that none of the men had been asked

these sorts of questions before - and that the opportunity to reflect on their behaviour and thoughts

was creating some attitudinal shifts within them. This research is a first step towards understanding

men’s perceptions of harassment, their actions and how it impacts the emotional well being of the

targeted person.

Keywords: sexual harassment, well being, perceptions, men, reflective space, attitudinal shift


Page | 41

G6 [38]

A CLIMATE OF GENDERED VIOLENCE: INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES AND

POLITICS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

D. Saksena

Institute of Applied Sciences & Humanities, GLA University, Mathura, India

ABSTRACT

Violence is intrinsic to a climate of domination that affects women across cultures. In recent times,

intersectional identity construction and identity-based politics have become a resource for

strengthening communities by promoting informative support networks. However, identity politics

also collides with dominant conceptions of social justice. This paper explores the intersections of race,

color and class that contribute to the modern identity of women and ironically create a climate of

gendered aggression against women in India and the US. I discuss reports of the Nirbhaya gang-rape

and the alleged sati of Roop Kanwar in India, the Ray Rice domestic violence in Baltimore and sexual

violence across the US. The present cultural climate of gender bias tends to polarize identities along

‘either/or’ binaries. Therefore, by applying a transnational and intersectional intellectual framework to

existing multi-layered authoritarian systems I argue that such events exemplify the cultural climate

that accepts such violence because normative cultural codes of gender, sexuality, economics and

social class determine official records and community memories of the brutality suffered by women

and continue to image women as self-rendered targets. While national administrative systems assure

access to legal justice, women are still a marginalized –and silenced--minority denied justice as

citizens in societal and cultural arenas. My effort is to advance an understanding of gendered violence

as a composite product sustained by structures of identity, race, caste, class, sexuality and economics,

and to advocate moving towards holistically secure environments for women in current climates of

violence.

Keywords: identity, intersectional, gender, violence, communities, culture


Page | 42

G7 [39]

TALES FROM THE INNER QUARTERS: HOW A QUEEN MOTHER AVENGES

HER DAUGHTER’S MURDER AND OTHER STORIES OF EASTERN INDIA

U. Bedamatta

Ravenshaw University, India

ABSTRACT

The Madala Panji (palm-leaf archives maintained in Jagannath temple at Puri in Odisha) records an

incident which occurred nearly one thousand years ago in which a king of the Ganga dynasty

impregnates his daughter and later has her buried alive to save his reputation. This story has been

subjected to revisionist readings in the pre-modern and modern periods in Odisha. Based on close

reading of these revisions and other stories written by women authors in the pre-modern period, this

paper proposes to track the evolution of gender discourse in Odisha. Of particular interest is the

various qualities of the feminine, from forgiveness to fury, that are foregrounded in these texts. Also,

the feminine agency negotiates with patriarchal notions of subservience and surrender in interesting

ways. It not only transforms the male but also tries its best to preserve order and harmony in the

domestic as well as the public sphere.

Keywords: feminine agency, Madala Panji, Odisha


Page | 43

G8 [40]

HONOR KILLINGS IN MODERN ARAB LITERATURE: FACT AND FICTION

O. Amin

New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT

Violence against women in its various forms continues to this day and continues to be marginalized.

A clear example of the extremity of violence against women can be seen in what are termed ‘honor

killings’. Throughout history, honor killings have been treated as crimes that warrant slight sentences,

if any, as the female ‘offender’ is accused of breaching the codes of morality and cultural taboos of

her community. In such cases, the male ‘avenger’ tends to be seen as the wronged party, who is

justified in any action he decides to undertake in pursuit of cleansing his defiled honor and that of his

family. Modern Arab literature is filled with such incidents aiming to alert public opinion to the

necessity of saving women from such practices. This paper aims to bridge the gap between fiction and

non-fiction. The first section of the paper gives statistics and examples of honor killings in modern

times focusing on cases from the Arab World. The second section consists of textual analysis of two

phases of Arab writers who use fiction to highlight the atrocity of such crimes and call for putting an

end to violence against women under the name of honor. It is of crucial importance to address such

cultural and social problems by making them part of the political agenda for human rights. Till this

day laws have not been reformed and unless such an action takes place thousands of women

worldwide will continue to lose their lives.

keywords: women's connection ,women's literature, woman & gender studies, honor killings


Page | 44

G9 [41]

CONSTRUCTING AND DECONSTRUCTING SOCIO-CULTURAL DISCOURSES

FOR HELP SEEKING AFTER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

S. Rasool

University of Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACT

This article is based on research conducted with seventeen abused women in South Africa, in order to

understand the facilitating and challenging factors that abuse women faced when seeking help for

domestic violence. Abuse history interviews, which lasted between an hour-and-a-half to three hours

long, were conducted with women who have experienced abuse and who sought help from shelters. A

purposive sample of women from Cape Town and Johannesburg women, who met the criteria,

volunteered to participate in this study. In this paper, I provide a theoretical framework for

understanding domestic violence help-seeking in the South African context. I argue that women who

are abused attain empowerment through a process of constructing and de-constructing socio-cultural

norms. The women provided compelling reasons for staying in abusive relationships, which are

embedded in socio-cultural norms- namely, the preservation of family and marriage; the normalisation

of abuse and the best interests of the child. At the same time, in order to attain empowerment abused

women reconstructed/reframed these very socio-cultural norms to attain empowerment. This process

of attaining various levels of agency, through utilising the terms of their oppression, and

reconstructing these socio-cultural norms in order to attain empowerment at certain turning points in

their abuse histories, is discussed in this paper. The paper highlights the high costs of challenging

patriarchy for abused women, but also the ways in which they creatively reconstruct their realities to

escape domestic violence. It is argued in this paper, that abused women ‘rationally’ work within the

patriarchal system to attain freedom from oppression.


Page | 45

G10 [42]

SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON REPAYMENT OF LOANS IN WOMEN

ENTREPRENEURSHIP; CASE STUDY FROM WAR-TORN AREAS IN SRI LANKA

S. Vijayapala2 and S.P. Jebewathani1

1Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Sri

Lanka

2Department of Management of Technology, Faculty of Business, University of Moratuwa,

Sri Lanka

ABSTARCT

Women play a vital role in the family and society and they are the key instrument in creation of

economic value. Women headed households who widowed, deserted and separated in their lifetime,

forced to take responsibility of their families with their own earnings due to the civil war.

Under post war development, Government and financial institutions launched several income

generation activities to enhance their living standard. However, the repayment is the problem and the

key influencing factors are loan amount, interest rate and period. Sometimes the women asked to

pledge their lesser valued properties. Failure or delaying repayment would cause situation of

demanding sexual bribe from the poor women, which would make them in very inconvenient manner.

The data collection for this research are; literature survey of selected case studies and interview

questionnaires/discussions with 10 women entrepreneurs who stopped their entrepreneurship due to

the sexual demands. The results revealed that the women face severe challenges during the repayment

of loans, such as expecting sexual favours by male; genuine way of financing and recovery, lack of

marketing, lack of modern technology use, social and cultural barriers and lack of Governmental

interference. Recommendations are; introduce soft loan schemes for women with standard interest

rate and collaterals; ensure the role of Government on Private financial institutions; using proper

channels for providing loans and repayments; implementing transparent monitoring system; providing

moral support to women to success in their entrepreneurial activities; introducing methods to reduce

the delays of repayments; and educate women entrepreneurs on using modern technology.

Keywords: loan repayment, women entrepreneurship, interest rate, sexual harassment, cultural burrier


Page | 46

H1 [43]

HIV/AIDS STIGMA: KENYAN WOMEN TELL THEIR STORIES

B. Hampton

Oswego State University of New York, United States

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to describe stories of Kenyan women’s experiences with HIV/AIDS

stigma, the context in which stigma is experienced, its impact on participants and their response.

Data were collected in 2015, during face-to-face audio taped conversations with twenty-five English-

speaking Kenyan women, over the age of 18, living with HIV/AIDS and receiving services through

Kenya Network of Women with AIDS (KENWA), an agency dedicated to improving the quality of

life for women living with HIV and AIDS and that of their children. Results show the major settings

in which participants experienced HIV/AIDS stigma including their workplace, their home, and their

church. Experiences in these settings left participants with feelings of humiliation and shame followed

by isolation. Results also indicate once involved with KENWA, participants came to accept

HIV/AIDS stigma as part of living with the virus. It was under these circumstances that they refused

to succumb to humiliation and shame and to move away from isolation to become HIV/AIDS activist

in their own communities. Although many people in Kenya have been educated about HIV/AIDS, the

stories Kenyan women tell about their experiences, illustrate stigma’s persistence and there is still a

need for HIV/AIDS education, especially in rural areas. Their connection to Kenya Network of

Women with AIDS also suggests that with adequate training and an effective support system, women

experiencing HIV/AIDS stigma can move beyond humiliation, shame, and isolation, to lives of

dignity and self-respect.


Page | 47

H2 [44]

SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WOMEN

A.J.L. Maray1 and C. Priyadharsini2

1Uniphore Software Systems, India

2Tata Consultancy Services, India

ABSTRACT

Does a woman have the liberty to define herself??? How many women have fought against own

psychological barriers and have marched forward??

On a global perspective we can find many women stepping ahead and excelling in almost all fields.

We could find a political woman leader, a doctor, an astronaut etc. But on other side at our own

locality, at our own home we could find women still fighting for her emancipation not just from the

surrounding but from her own self. When human being experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is

not uncommon for their lives to unravel and especially in women. This paper aims at bringing infinite

option when society keeps a gun on the women’s thought freedom. When we magnify the geography

of women from the latitude point of successful and longitude point of unsuccessful women, we saw a

common radiant equator- social factors which Influence their psychological region. This paper aims at

analyzing this important - socio psychological aspects of women for achieving self actualization by

pondering into three vital dimensions –education, employed and unemployed women, health and

nutrition. The study shows the necessity of understanding self actualization and self initiative by every

women folks to locate their individuality along with the support of society which includes each

individual woman, family, government in overcoming the limiting factors which in-turn will create a

strong impact over the nation at wider range.

Keywords: women, society, psychology, education, employment, health


Page | 48

H3 [45]

PROSPECTIVE MEMORY AND ITS GENDER DIFFERENCES

C.M. Chandrika1 and B.W.D. Raja1

1 Department of Education, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India

ABSTRACT

The authors are intended to find whether there is any influence of gender on prospective memory, for

which they review the relevant studies conducted for a decade. The synthesis of findings will reveal

where the gaps are, with regard to various subjects, spectrum of sample level of students etc.

Currently the review studies of fifteen papers will enlighten us a lot about the need for prospective

memory.

Keywords: memory, prospective memory, executive functions, sensory stage, long-term memory


Page | 49

H4 [46]

LIVES (IN) BETWEEN

A. Mishra1, A. Kumar1, N. Kapoor2, R. Kapoor3, A. Sengupta1, A. Mishra4 and A. Singh3

1Ambedkar University Delhi, India

2PRADAN, India

3 International Institute for Population Sciences, India

4 Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India

ABSTRACT

Women in development discourse are either an empowered woman or a woman who is seeking

empowerment. And in between lies the normal and mundane which is either not worth mentioning or

beyond the capacity of the development discourse to describe and find value in. Women narratives,

which are individual account of surviving the mundane and normal, brings the real story behind a life

lived in negotiation(s) for survival. Women’s narratives as a methodology in feminist theories have

brought researchers, scholars, historians and practitioners closer to ‘reality’ of women’s lives. Such

narratives represent experience from the perspective of women, affirm the importance of women’s

contributions, and furnish present-day women with historical continuity that is essential to their

identity, individually and collectively. This paper focuses on women’s narratives around changing

agricultural practices affecting the nutrition and health in Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and

Chhattisgarh states of India conducted as a part of action research. The paper will focus on certain

specific questions like- what is the life of an Adivasi woman like in her context? What is being a

woman in her context mean? What is the idea of health in an Adivasi woman’s imagination? What

does agriculture mean to her in relation to her counterpart? What does she think of equality of gender

in relation to labour and nutrition? The paper will try to enter the lives of Adivasi women through

their stories.

Keywords: women’s narratives, Adivasi women, agriculture, nutrition


Page | 50

H5 [47]

SOCIO-CULTURAL STUDY OF HEROIN USING FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN

THE CITY OF COLOMBO

S.L. Abeysekera

Sri Lanka National Association of Counselors, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

This exploratory research focused on the socio cultural background of heroin using female sex

workers in the City of Colombo to discuss their main routes to sexual and heroin using behaviors.

This group of vulnerable females who tend to be a hidden population are not included in the general

population survey. They are socially excluded women involved in sex work and using heroin. This

study examined the links between heroin use and sex work among females and about the environment

in which heroin use and sex work is mutually reinforced.

Interestingly, although there is much focus in on what sex workers do, very little attention is paid as to

how they have come into the profession and why they continue to stay there. As they are a vulnerable

group of people who live in a violent culture, these females are at great risk of psychological and

physiological health related problems. Policy planning and new strategies should be implemented in

the prevention of heroin use and sex work among females in Sri Lanka.

Keywords, female, heroin, sex work, population


Page | 51

J1 [48]

MALLEABILITY OF GENDER ROLES AND SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION OF

NELIBEWA, SRI LANKA

K. Herath

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Sex is biological and Gender is cultural (Fainstein and Servon, 2005, p. 3). With the transformation of

the society and culture, gender roles also transform, and vice versa. Women and their roles in

Nelibewa, Sri Lanka have been transforming rapidly within last several decades. Over the years,

women have become more educated, financially independent and socially responsible by exercising

their agency to respond to various socio-economic changes. Some women play the breadwinner role

in their family, while they also contribute to the housing development, production of inclusive spaces,

and community development in the village. Higher demand for cheap female labor in Free Trade

Zones, Middle East and in the service sector has produced more opportunities for women to get

employed both locally and internationally. While the patriarchal culture in the village pushes women

to stay at the reproduction spaces, the international capitalism pulls them to the production spaces.

Hayden emphasis that women’s problem is paradoxical because they cannot improve their status in

the home unless their overall economic position in society is altered, and women cannot improve their

status in the paid labor force unless their domestic responsibilities are altered (2005, p. 51). However,

the gender roles of men are not as malleable as women’s roles in Nelibewa. Malleability of gender

roles is a crucial attribute in the transformation of the socio-spatial structure of the village. This study

analyses the stories of the villagers, gathered in informal interviews.

Keywords: gender roles, malleability, transformation, socio-spatial structure, patriarchy, inclusive

spaces


Page | 52

J2 [49]

PADMAAVAT, HONOUR AND JAUHAR: A DISCOURSE ON CULTURAL

FEMINISM AND MOVIE INDUSTRY IN INDIA

W.A.H.C.M. Perera

Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

The Bollywood movie Padmaavat was released amidst much uproar and criticisms from multiple

groups for seemingly endorsing the practice of Jauhar (an act of mass self-immolation practiced by

women in early India). On the other hand, it was also argued that the portrayal of Padmavati’s

character shows the courage of Rajput women, in its historical context. Proponents of the movie argue

based on the Director’s freedom of expression, and how the movie only depicts a story that already

existed in the Indian tradition. The question arises, therefore, as to whether a movie that showcases its

heroine’s courage through a glorified scene of Jauhar, is truly an attempt at denigrating women. In

this light, this essay seeks to address the following questions: a) is courage cultural? Can an act of

Jauhar be justified through cultural feminism? b) What is the role of the movie industry in depicting

‘strong’ female characters? and c) what are the implications of glorifying such acts through popular

cinema? The essay will be based on a systemic review of academic articles pertaining to feminist

theory, freedom of expression and comments made by leading feminists and movie critics regarding

the depiction of Jauhar in the movie. In conclusion, it will be argued that movies and their plots do

not exist in a social vacuum. A movie is mere depiction of a society’s popular beliefs, which a

Director capitalizes on. Hence, it is the social institutions that should invite criticism, not the movie

that brings them to light.

Keywords: bollywood, cultural feminism, freedom of expression, honour, movies


Page | 53

J3 [50]

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION TRENDS AMONGST

FEMALE STUDENTS IN PAKISTANI UNIVERSITIES: VIEW FROM LAHORE

M. Mirza1 and J. Hussain2

1Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) Lahore, Pakistan

2University Utara Malaysia (UUM), Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Young women are not considered to be interested in social and politics issues, even the educated ones.

This is more so in patriarchal developing states like Pakistan. However, things may not be as they are

portrayed. Pakistani female students have strong views. Moreover, as compared to male students they

maybe just as aware and vocal about social and political issue if not more. This paper analyses the

awareness, understanding and participation of female university students in comparison with male

students. An instrument has been used to collect data from three private and three public sector

universities of Lahore. A non-probability convenient based sampling technique has been used.

Whereas, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis are used to have a comparative analysis of

students based on gender and type of university and their interest in civic engagement and political

participation activities. The Public private university distinction is important in Pakistan because

usually private universities cater to upper class and public universities to lower middle class students.

The results have interesting findings, as female students are found to be just as understanding and

accepting towards civic engagement and political participation as male students. Additionally, public

sector university students are more vocal and expressive towards political participation and civic

engagement compare to private sector universities’ students. Youth are the future and a politically

aware and interested female youth has the potential to change the political and social milieu of an

illiberal democracy like Pakistan.

Keywords: female students, civic engagement, political participation, university, Pakistan


Page | 54

J4 [51]

WOMEN ACADEMIC LEADERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN:

PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION

DEGREES

A.J. Khokhar

Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Pakistan

ABSTRACT

A job in the Education sector is considered one of the most suitable jobs for women in Pakistan. This

view has strong roots in religion and culture. The number of women becoming teachers has risen and

their number in other faculties and departments in universities has been rising as Pakistan has opened

new women only universities. These universities have women Vice Chancellors. There are other

universities in Pakistan where men and women study and teach together and none of these have seen a

women as a Vice Chancellor. This question was taken to the female students enrolled in the

postgraduate programmes of three private universities. 10 students were selected from each university

and these were divided into two focus groups. The total number of participants in this research was

30. There were 6 focus groups and each group discussed the question “why are there no women vice

chancellors in Pakistan in universities where both men and women study and teach together?” The

discussions were moderated by the researcher and recorded. Each of the session lasted for about 35

minutes. The three main reasons gathered from these group discussions for women not being able to

break the glass ceiling are family, culture and religion. The group members believed that they cannot

rise to the top position in any higher education institute unless supported by the men in their family

and the institute they are part of.

Keywords: women educator, higher education, academic leaders


Page | 55

J5 [52]

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION AND TRANSFORMATION: A CASE

STUDY OF PAKISTAN

S. Muneer

University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Education is the essential component to change the life of every child either girl or boy.

Unfortunately, most of the societies still part of gender discrimination in all facets of life and this

discrimination with females is well known from womb to tomb. In Pakistan, situation is not entirely

different where women empowerment and education of girls has always been a subjective matter of

discussion at all forums. This paper re-examines the relationship between education and women

empowerment and reviews the current situation of women’s education in Pakistan. The focus of this

paper is to evaluate the how much education play a fundamental role in transforming the women

status in Pakistan. Simultaneously, this paper examines the intrinsic and extrinsic challenges towards

the education and transformation of women in Pakistan. This study has been conducted through

multiple stage cluster sampling, a survey questionnaire and focused group discussions.

Keywords: women empowerment, education, transformation, challenges, Pakistan


Page | 56

J6 [53]

THE UNDEFEATED MONSTER OF HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY IN HUNTER’S

RUN

P. Fišerová

Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

ABSTRACT

Taken for granted, normalized as a non-category, and thus invisible, masculinity used to be a topic

that escaped academic attention. This changed with the postmodern tendency to question and

deconstruct dominant narratives. Hegemonic masculinity was quickly identified as boys’ and men’s

pursued ideal; the privileges it promises, however, come with many dangers towards women, other

men, as well as oneself. These complexities have captured the interest of multiple literary scholars,

and I join them with an analysis of Hunter’s Run (2007), an American sci-fi novel for mature

audiences authored by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, and Daniel Abraham. The novel is filled

to the brim with commentary on ‘real’ men, ‘proper’ men, ‘good’ men, men as their own species, and

mankind’s colonialist efforts in space. Most importantly, confronting hegemonic masculinity forms a

crucial plot point when the protagonist encounters his clone and realizes he despises his own gender

performance even more than the aliens he is fighting. Despite all these direct and indirect criticisms

and the promises Ramón makes to himself about becoming a better man, the novel has an

anticlimactic ending with Ramón’s behavior changing very little, making Hunter’s Run one in a line

of novel-shaped critiques of traditional masculinity ideals that offer no alternative solutions. The

authors do not help the issue by describing Hunter’s Run as a book about ‘humanity and identity’

rather than masculinity, attempting to make the topic an invisible one yet again.

Keywords: masculinity, hegemonic, invisible, criticism, deconstruction


Page | 57

J7 [54]

GENDERED LIFE CHOICE AND GENDERED SUCCESS: CASE STUDIES OF

NEPALI WOMEN MIGRANTS IN JAPAN

M. Tanaka

Sophia University, Japan

ABSTRACT

Gender and migration is a relevant topic to monitor indicators of SDGs - women empowerment (Goal

5) and growth and decent work (Goal 8). Women and men migrate for similar aims – to study abroad,

to pursue higher salary, or to flee conservative society. However, women have different pull and push

factors of migration, as daughters, as wives, and as mothers, which surely influence their priorities,

either pursuing own carriers, sending remittance, or serving for their families at their destinations.

Migrant women’s lives vary by their legal and social statuses. However, scholarly works on gender

and migration have been done mostly about women migrants working as caregivers. The study aims

to examine empowerment of women migrants from Nepal to Japan. The research is based on mixed

methods, questionnaire survey and multi-sited ethnography. The study illustrates lives of Nepali

women in Japan categorized in 4 groups by visa categories and social status, 1) dependent status

living with husbands working for Indo-Nepali restaurants, 2) dependent status living with husbands

working for global IT companies, 3) student status originally from low-income group and migrated to

earn money, and 4) student or professional status originally from high-income group to develop their

carriers. They have differences in integration and exposure to local communities in Japan where the

gender gap is higher than that of Nepal. The study concludes that empowerment of migrant women is

influenced by the level of women empowerment in the destination countries and by their own goal

setting regardless of their backgrounds.

Keywords: migration, gender, empowerment, Nepal, Japan


Page | 58

J8 [55]

WIDOWS AND CONCUBINES: TRADITION AND DEVIANCE IN THE WOMEN

OF KANTHAPURA

M.E.P. Ranmuthugala

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Raja Rao’s 1938 novel Kanthapura points to the impact of Gandhian thought on women and men, and

this research focuses on the novel’s fashioning of female identities in terms of nationalism as

espoused by Gandhi and his followers. This analytical research paper hypothesizes that although

women constitute a considerable part of the narrative and have political agency, their identity is

molded by men to serve the men’s nationalist interests: The paper is based on the contention that

women have to undergo transformation and refashioning of their identities for nationalism. The novel

provides a strong argument for Gandhi’s political ethic of empowering people, but the paper also

looks at Ambedkar’s impact on India. The novel engages with diverse issues such as nationalism,

religion, caste, sexuality, and feminism. Using close reading, this paper focuses on nationalism using

a comparison of the village and the city through attention to concepts of imagined communities,

women’s education, modernism and traditionalism. In addition, the paper draws heavily from gender

and feminist theory along with performativity theory especially in relation to the asexuality assigned

to women by Gandhi. The goal of the paper is to understand if Rao’s novel Kanthapura is a feminist

text that allows agency for women especially within the two discourses of politics and nationalism.

The paper hopes to contribute new insight to existing literature, which mainly deals with nationalism

and caste, through a critical reading of the novel using nationalism and feminism as its lens.

Keywords: nationalism, feminism, Gandhi, sexuality, political agency, identity


Page | 59

K1 [56]

TRENDS IN CONTRACEPTIVE USE SOME EXPERIENCES FROM INDIA AND

HER NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

S. Ghosh

Scottish Church College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Analysis of data sets on contraceptive use is important to assess the effectiveness of policy decisions

towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal that endeavours to ensure universal access to

contraceptive use. The paper therefore attempts to estimate the trends in the contraceptive use and

unmet need in India and her major neighbouring counties during the recent past based on the data base

provided by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division

(2017). The study estimated the trends in the percentage of women who want to avoid pregnancy, by

using modern contraceptives or used traditional methods or no methods. The percentage women in

India using modern methods increased from 42.3 percent in 2000 to 47.8 percent in 2016. The figures

for Bangladesh stand at 44 percent and 53.9 respectively, during the same period. However the

experience for Pakistan is not encouraging. The percentage of women using modern contraceptives in

Sri Lanka stand at 52.9 percent in 2007. The paper concludes that for healthy upbringing of children

birth spacing is important for women and the family. To meet the unmet need for use of modern

contraceptives, the south Asian countries need to improve availability of resources for timely delivery

of contraceptive services. The countries under study have long to go to meet the unfinished

Millennium Development Goal. Proper dispersal of education among our girls can increase the

efficacy of appropriate social interventions

Keywords: India, neighbouring countries, contraceptive use, unmet needs, United Nations


Page | 60

K2 [57]

CHOOSING PERMANENT CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS: SRI LANKAN

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES UNDER THE SHADOWS OF PATRIARCHY AND

PATERNALISM

N. Mendis and H. Rathnamalala

University of Colombo, Sri Lanka


ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the right of Sri Lankan women to seek and receive permanent contraceptive

methods (PCM) through public and private health services and presents the restrictions of women’s

right to equality through case studies illustrating women’s lived experiences. The initial research

indicates that women’s stories illustrate ‘unofficial policy’, underlying socio-political issues and

general social attitudes and stereotypes concerning women’s bodies, particularly their fertility,

reproductive choice, family size and concepts of ideal motherhood within society, which can restrict

women’s rights and choice even in the absence of a law or official policy which denies them the right

to make these decisions. The research methodology uses mixed methods: firstly, analysis using

feminist legal research methodology, with reference to international legal standards; secondly,

selected case studies using purposive sampling and gathered using qualitative methods to reflect the

stories of women of different generations and social classes of Sri Lanka; thirdly, expert interviews

with health care providers in the area of family planning in Sri Lanka, which will be carried out for

the confirmatory purposes. This paper identifies, in the denial of a woman’s choice, violations of a

woman’s right to health, reproductive rights and the right to privacy. These rights are also dimensions

in the prism of the concept of equality and the violations can be traced to patriarchal societal norms

and the paternalism of the health system which deems adult women as not fully capable of making the

choice of receiving permanent contraceptive methods. The purpose of this research is to identify

recommendations for progressive changes in law and policy and to determine a framework for further

research on the sources of these restrictions.

Keywords: permanent contraceptive methods, women’s right to health, choice, reproductive rights


Page | 61

K3 [58]

WOMEN AND ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING WOMEN’S RIGHT TO DECIDE:

A DISTANT REALITY IN INDIA

S. Chauhan

Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

214 million women of reproductive age in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not

using a modern contraceptive method. Every time a woman cannot decide freely the number or timing

of her children or is denied access to quality family planning services, her basic human right is

violated. According to the United Nations Population Fund, the right to sexual and reproductive

health is an essential component of the right to life, the right to health, the right to education and the

right to equality and non- discrimination. Societal norms and attitudes about masculinity and femininity

resulting in gender related norms have led to women not being able to exercise their rights impacting their

health and well-being.

When women have the right to freely decide whether, when and how many children they want to have,

they can make responsible decisions about their own bodies. This has an impact on their health and

impacts the health and overall development of the family. Irrespective of their economic strata, all

women should have access to high-quality health services. Arming them with the right tools and

knowledge about reproductive health will put them in charge of making significant decisions like

family planning. When women are in charge of planning their family, everyone benefits. Using

contraception and adopting family planning not only allows people to attain their desired number of

children and determine the spacing of pregnancies but also reduces the rates of unintended

pregnancies, infant and maternal mortality.


Page | 62

K4 [59]

A STUDY ON IMPACT OF INCREASED ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING ON

FERTILITY AND HEALTH AMONG RURAL WOMEN AT TAMIL NADU, INDIA

T. Murugesan1 and K.R. Murugan2

1Centre for Women’s Studies, Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu, India

2Department of Social Work, Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

Improving access to family planning in Tamil; Nadu has the potential to help women and couples

achieve their desired family size and avert unintended pregnancies and unwanted births. It may also

have longer-term effects by improving women’s health, educational attainment, and socio-economic

status of rural women in India. However, little is actually known about the effectiveness of family

planning. The poorest couples have the highest fertility, the lowest contraceptive use and the highest

unmet need for contraception. It is also in the low resource settings where maternal and child

mortality is the highest. Family planning can contribute to improvements in maternal and child health,

especially in low resource settings where overall access to health services is limited. Family planning

programmes should take primary responsibility for disseminating accurate information and correcting

misinformation. A couple's acceptance of modern methods is all too often limited because they do not

know how modern methods work or they think methods have an adverse influence on their ability to

conceive later. In Tamil Nadu, Innovations for Poverty Action is working with researchers to measure

how an increase in access to family planning through information, transportation, and reimbursements

for family planning services impacts women’s fertility, health, and well-being. The Paper based on

Content Analysis

Keywords: women, child, health, family planning, society, fertility


Page | 63

L1 [60]

THE ACTS OF SILENCE AND THE SECRETS WE KEEP: YOUTH DISRUPTING

A CULTURE OF CONCEALMENT

R. Mahadev1 and N. de Lange1

1 Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

ABSTRACT

South Africa has the highest incidence of sexual violence in the world with society often appearing

complacent having become accustomed to the high levels of sexual violence. This however is

changing and diverse voices are emerging as resistance to sexual violence. Ending gender-based

violence against Indian girls and women is a challenge - in a patriarchal society where traditional

practices consign women to a position of subjugation which contributes to their susceptibility to

sexual violence. This presentation focuses on Indian secondary school youth in Durban, South Africa

– where the biggest Indian community outside of India is found - and explores how they as youth

understand sexual violence and how they see preventing sexual violence from happening in their

community. The participants, experts of insider knowledge, were Indian boys and girls who were

purposively selected from a secondary school in Durban. A participatory visual research approach as

‘research as intervention’, located within a critical paradigm, was used. The theory of triadic influence

informed the meaning making of the findings as well as the preventive intervene. The findings

suggest that Indian youths’ understanding of sexual violence pivots around a culture of concealment

in which veiling sexual violence is the required norm. Using participatory video enabled the youth to

interrogate and reflect - affording them an opportunity to draw from their own experiences and

interpret it in the context of sexual violence in South Africa - creating new knowledge enabling the

beginning of a disruption of the ‘culture of concealment’ through taking action.

Keywords: Indian community, Indian culture, youth, participatory video, secondary school learners,

sexual violence


Page | 64

L2 [61]

WOMEN TRAFFICKING: A STUDY OF ITS IMPACT TOWARDS

EMPOWERMENT

N. Arora

Banasthali Vidyapith, India

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to analyze the Human trafficking impact in jeopardizing the women

empowerment in India. In present era women empowerment has turned out to be a most paramount

concern of 21st century. In our day to day life we see that how women’s are victimized by human

trafficking. Human trafficking is becoming a budding international trade day by day which hampered

the dignity and freedom of women. In an unreasonable commercialization of mankind, women are

utilized like items and after that discarded. Today gender discrimination prevails in a rampant manner

even in a society of universal equality which exasperates human trafficking. This lucrative trafficking

comes out to be obstruction in women empowerment. Women empowerment is a myth of realism.

This paper will be based on the secondary data and its primary aim or focus has been to throw light on

the women education, changes in social structure, raise awareness, encourage their involvement in

various aspects etc., which enables women empowerment and also help in curbing the human

trafficking. Finally, the recommendations are added which can further help to stop this special perils.

Keywords: human trafficking, women empowerment, equality, gender, discrimination, women

education etc


Page | 65

L3 [62]

PRIORITIZING THE WOMEN’S VOICE ON MATTERS AFFECTING THEM:

INTERVENTIONS WITH DOMESTICALLY VIOLENT MEN

H.J. McLaren, J. Fischer and L. Zannettino

Flinders University, Australia

ABSTRACT

Our standpoint is that interventions with men who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV) should

result in measurable improvements to the quality of life (QOL) of women. In Australia and

internationally, however, assessing men’s violence reduction programs on the basis of changes to

women’s quality of life (QOL) is not currently practiced. Services tend to focus on program outcome

indicators, such as men’s stated acknowledgement of responsibility for their violence, men’s self-

reports on behavioral change, women’s reporting on the men’s change, quasi-experimental testing,

and/or reduction in recidivism rates. Existing outcome reports on interventions with violent men are

laden with equivocal results, and researchers frequently determine program outcomes they deem

important for women. Despite good intentions, the women’s voice has been silenced here on issues

affecting them. In this paper we report on emerging dialogues that favor the use of women’s QOL

measures, including women’s articulation of their preferences for a better life. In cherishing the

vernacular of ‘getting your life back’, we draw on interviews with 100 women and argue that

improving the lives of women has to better utilize research and evaluation methodologies responsive

to the articulated needs and life preferences of women. However, this is futile when interventions with

violent men are not informed by the voice of women. It is the women who are most set to benefit from

men’s violence reduction programs. It is timely that the women’s voices are heard.


Page | 66

L4 [63]

SILENT PROTESTS AND SILENT POWER: HOW WOMEN USE SILENCE AS A

FORM OF AGENCY

G.J. Gatwiri

Southern Cross University, Australia

ABSTRACT

One of the major scholarly debates in feminist discourses is identifying ways in which women’s

ability to speak for themselves get silenced. While feminism encourages women to speak out,

sometimes using their voice could mean putting women in danger of being hurt, abused, or ostracised

further. Therefore, some women learn how to protest, rebel, and challenge oppression through their

silences. In this paper I ask, can silence be used as a tool of resistance and transformation- and does it

have a place in feminist scholarship? And, should feminism encourage silence as another empowering

form of agency?

I argue that silence, secrecy and ‘passivity’ can take many forms and shapes. I draw from recent

Social Work research with women in Kenya to show how silence can be an effective tool with which

to interrupt power, abuse and oppression. Understanding how these forms of “silent protests” exist as

power in themselves, provides a platform in which we can renegotiate and reframe the place of silence

in feminist discourses. There is evidence to suggest that the transformative nature of silent protests

adopted by women and girls across the globe, redefine how silence, secrecy, and passivity can be

effective and gradual tools for negotiations. It is therefore necessary to rethink silence as a space

where profound possibilities exist especially for women living in heavily patriarchal societies.

Keywords: silence, Patriarchy, feminism, women, silence as power, silent agency


Page | 67

M1 [64]

ADVANCING WIDESPREAD RAPE AS JUS COGENS NORM

A. Alexander

West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), India

ABSTRACT

‘Widespread Rape’ in the context of International law as principle of Jus Cogens norm remains rather

obscure. For most part rape as an international crime is clubbed with other towering crimes like

Genocide or Crimes Against Humanity. The article attempts to establish the fact that rape as a distinct

crime has attained Jus Cogens status through opinion juris and state practice in the course of which

the author would throw light into the jurisprudence of International Criminal Tribunal For Former

Yugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal For Rwanda and pin point cases cutting across

jurisdiction special reference is rendered to path breaking cases like Prosecutor v. Kunarac. The

limitation in available literature on the definition of rape is also put to test by the researcher; the

obtainable sources are traced, laying emphasis specifically on Article 27 of Fourth Geneva

Convention. The researcher also magnifies the preamble of the U.N Charter to identify gender

equality. Besides the available works in general international law, the author consciously harbors on

special international law like the Convention on the elimination of racial discrimination (CEDAW),

Convention against torture (CAT). The other side of the article deliberates on the customary

international aspects and impediments in attainment of Jus Cogens. In the final part of the article, the

research insidiously travels to the advantages and disadvantages on giving the normative status to

crime of widespread rape, advantage in terms of overpowering jurisdictional hurdles of consent and

disadvantage of state sovereignty coupled with political interest is extensively debated.

Keywords: Geneva Conventions, ICTY, ICTR, Kunarac, UN Charter


Page | 68

M2 [65]

A CRITICAL STUDY ON HINDU WOMAN’S RIGHT TO PROPERTY AND TO

DIVORCE: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

R. Khatun1 and F. Abedin1

1Department of Law, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

Much has been debated on the issue of hindu woman’s right to property and right to divorce under the

orthodox hindu legal regime in Bangladesh. Hindu being the minor community in Bangladesh has

been in deprivation of the utility of the expected changes and hence a flagrant non-compliance with

the universal human rights normative framework as to twin principles of equality and non-

discrimination and its own constitutional fundamental rights. Instead of being hindu majority-based

country, India has brought a radical change in their personal laws affecting hindu women rights along

with other areas. This paper demonstrates the laws that apply in Bangladesh comparing with India and

some other countries and it has been tried to find out the practical reasons behind unwillingness to

reform the hindu personal laws regarding property and divorce right in Bangladesh. At the same time

this article aims to focus on constitutional validity of un-unified personal laws in Bangladesh which

affect the hindu women and create a safeguard for sustaining of age old patriarchal system of our

society. In spite of having many limitations it is our belief that our little attempt will create a robust

voice for woman’s right in Bangladesh which already declared by Vienna Declaration as human rights

for all the country. Besides, this study will try to find out the non-equality between right based and

liability creating legislations for the women in Bangladesh.


Page | 69

M3 [66]

GENDER EQUALITY AND DECENT WORK FOR FEMALE SEX WORKERS IN

JAMAICA

R.M. Mitchell

The University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Women in developing countries face more complex challenges as they are more likely to be

unemployed than men, be a part of informal and part time work. Work is an essential component of

human existence and women should be able to pursue decent work which is free from discrimination

and stigma with satisfactory conditions. The situation becomes even more complex for female sex

workers, who are at a greater disadvantage because of the gender inequality that exists in the society.

The fact that there are no entrenched laws that protect female sex workers from the numerous

vulnerabilities (like; human trafficking) and the exploitation that they are susceptible to, means that

they face further marginalization from the labour force and other areas that are basic to human

existence such as; access to health care.

This paper examines the important role that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can play on

highlighting women equality and their ability to derive the benefit of decent work. Additionally, it

argues for the inclusion of female sex workers in any discussion on women equality and decent work.

Decent work principles should be applied to this group with the view to reduce the multiple forms of

exploitation that plague them. The issue is of importance on various levels including; better access to

health care, expansion of human and labour rights and towards a more entrenched social policy, that

will offer further social protection to female sex workers and that may also have positive implications

for the larger society.

The global goals in particular numbers five and eight present an opportunity to highlight the unique

circumstances of female sex workers. This paper provides some recommendations to improve the

situation of all women and in particular sex workers for the attainment of a more inclusive

development. Furthermore, the paper outlines the role of civil society in the fulfillment of the SDGs

for all and especially for this socially excluded group.

Keywords: women equality, sex workers, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), social protection


Page | 70

N1 [67]

WOMEN ADAPTATION RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY IN

ZIMBABWE: A CASE OF BINDURA DISTRICT

L. Musevenzo

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

In a landmark declaration, the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 proclaimed the right to

development as a human right. By this, it meant that development belongs to everyone, individually

and collectively, with no discrimination and with peoples’ participation. However, this has not been

the case in Bindura district of Zimbabwe considering the manner in which the negative effects of

climate change which include poverty have been addressed in Zimbabwe. To that end, this paper

examines climate change adaptation responses adopted in Bindura from a gendered standpoint and

further interrogates whether these are gender sensitive considering the levels of poverty among men

and women in Bindura. To deduce the extent to which climate change adaptation responses adopted in

Bindura are gender sensitive, on-site observations of climate change adaptation responses in Bindura

were made. By extension, qualitative research methodologies such as in-depth interviews were

employed. Secondary data sources from literature around climate change adaptation responses and

poverty among women were also used. Over and above this paper concludes that within Bindura

District men assume that giving women knowledge about climate change adaptation strategies will

ultimately lead to women insubordination which is one of the African retrogressive societal beliefs.

This also further contributes to poverty among women in Bindura as sometimes women lack access to

appropriate tools and technology. This study therefore submits that relevant stakeholders should put in

place effective measures to make sure that women are economically and socially empowered to adapt

to the dire effects of climate change.

Keywords: climate change, climate change adaptation, gender, gender equality, sustainable

development


Page | 71

N2 [68]

PARTICIPATION AND VOICE OF WOMEN IN COMMUNITY-BASED

ORGANIZATION (A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MATHAGAL EAST RURAL

WATER SUPPLY)

C. Balachandran

Department of Geography, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Participation of Women in Community-Based Organizations has significance for the controlled access

of community resources, enhanced decision-making and chipping away at socio-cultural norms that

constrain women’s voice. Women empower the programmes managed by the community with an

initial support from governments or international organizations are considered as a useful strategy to

provide safe drinking water to rural communities in the world to achieve the “gender equality”,

sustainable development goal of UN. Across the developing countries, studies show that the Women

are active participants in CBOs but they are still underrepresented in leadership positions, and

entrenched traditional views and cultural practices continue to restrict their public roles. This research

aims to identify the participation and capability of women in community-based organizations to

manage rural water supply. Furthermore, this study tends to propose some recommendations to

enhance the women participation in CBOs. Primary data were collected by field observation,

interview, questionnaire survey and discussion methods and secondary data were obtained from

different official sources. Research samples were selected through Simple Random sampling method.

Descriptive statistical analysis was used for this study. The study concludes that the women

participate actively in CBOs during various stages and hold higher positions in the CBOs. Women in

the CBOs are capable to manage the rural water supply with sustainability. Poor education and

leadership, socio cultural influences, domestic and family responsibilities and religious beliefs are

some factors hindering the women’s participation in CBOs. Some useful recommendations are

proposed here to enhance women’s participation in CBOs. These findings help the researchers,

planners, policy makers and graduates to advance women’s participation in CBOs.

Keywords: women participation, community based organizations, rural water supply


Page | 72

N3 [69]

THE DYNAMICS OF GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT: A JAMAICAN

PERSPECTIVE

I.O. Boxill and D.K. Fletcher

The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

ABSTRACT

One of the barriers to human development in the twenty-first century is gender inequality. Today in

some regions of the world and in some sections of the Jamaican society there is a large concentration

of females in non-technical jobs, while their male counterparts are actively engaged in the more

technical jobs. Notwithstanding this, the evidence is pointing to a change in how gender roles are

perceived. A review of the literature reveals a sociological context for this perception which is based

on a tradition of patriarchy and gender inequality. For years many Caribbean scholars have focused on

the impact of slavery and colonialism on gender roles and have argued that slavery resulted in

different types of gender roles among Caribbean black men and women as compared to women in

other countries. Despite the fact that many Caribbean women are seen as being more "liberated" than,

say, their American counterparts, there still exists a patriarchal ideology within the region which

influences gender roles. Drawing on a survey of lower to lower-middle income communities together

with a review of official statistics the paper sought to determine the extent to which perceptions of

gender roles have remained stereotypical in regard to the household and the workplace? Also

explored, is the extent to which men and women are still seen as differently-abled in regard to

technical jobs? The paper presents data on the views of the residents and makes a comparison with

findings of a previous study conducted in 1997. Finally, recommendations aimed at promoting greater

level of gender parity within the Jamaican labour market are shared.

Keywords: gender roles, patriarchy, inequality


Page | 73

Q1 [70]

SINGLE WOMEN AND CHANGING VALUES: CONTESTING INSTITUTION OF

MARRIAGE

S. Awasthi and S. Sharma

National Human Rights Commission and Delhi University, India

ABSTRACT

The paper is based on a qualitative research that was undertaken with seven single women in the

metropolitan city of Delhi. The paper analyzes the reasons for the single women to consciously make

a choice to abstain or delay marriage. Marriage is considered as one of the most important social

institution in our society and women’s centrality to this social institution has been a topic of

discussion in class rooms and academic platforms. The very notion of society is seen to be dependent

upon marriage and kinship. In recent years, India has witnessed a significant shift in the rise of single

women. Single women in India-never married, divorced, separated, widowed-comprise nearly 12

percent of our female population. It’s a demography that is rapidly expanding: Between 2001 and

2011, there was a 39 percent increase in the number of single women as reported by the Census of

India. In-depth interviews with seven single women, who have never been married, revealed that their

idea of marriage had shifted with their age and the factors contributing towards the shift were; the

effect of parents’ marriage, past relationships and its impact and the portrayal of marriage by others.

The paper discusses the cultural lag in the value system which is existent in India, at individual and

social levels. Women are questioning the social institution of marriage and consequently the conflict

between their individual value system and those of the society is coming to the forefront. The cultural

lag, in terms of values has widened and there are two sets of values and ideas which are moving

parallel to each other but are in conflict. This paper analyzes the existent cultural lag in India at

individual and social levels when women contest marriage and the traditional value framework

associated with the institution.

Keywords: culture, values, marriage, single women


Page | 74

Q2 [71]

THE PRACTICE OF SURROGACY IN SRI LANKA: A DILEMMA BETWEEN

BODILY AUTONOMY, LAW AND CULTURE

A.H.M.D.L. Abeyrathna

Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Recent trends indicate that Sri Lanka is emerging as a destination for couples seeking surrogate

mothers. Though it is quite difficult to obtain specific statistics, its popularity in Sri Lanka can be

observed, as persons willing to contribute as surrogate mothers are creating web pages, publishing

their details. Lack of legal provisions regulating this practice and the inexpensive medical procedure

involved can be identified as the reasons behind the surge of this practice in Sri Lanka. Despite the

broad scope for discussion presented by this practice, there is a significant lack of academic research

pertaining to surrogacy. This paper mainly focuses on the rights of surrogate mothers with special

reference to their bodily autonomy. For this purpose, this research mainly addresses following

questions: (a) the conflict between bodily autonomy of the surrogate mother and the Sri Lankan

social-cultural beliefs; (b) issues regarding the consent of surrogate mother and (c) the conflict

between government intervention and bodily autonomy of the surrogate mother. For this purpose, a

desk review of existing international human rights instruments will be followed by a comparative

analysis of domestic and foreign legislation, academic articles and reports by recognized

organizations from Sri Lanka and other jurisdictions. Interviews with key informants involved in

facilitating the surrogacy processes will also be conducted. In conclusion, the research paper proposes

a regulatory mechanism by the State that will ensure the bodily autonomy of surrogate mothers in Sri

Lanka, and adequate policies to ensure their safety and social protection.

Keywords: surrogacy, surrogate mother, bodily autonomy


Page | 75

Q3 [72]

INTERSECTIONALITY AND CHILD MARRIAGE: A PERSPECTIVE ON SRI

LANKA

S. Ravi

Lowa State University Alumni, United States

ABSTRACT

Child marriage is shockingly a global issue prevalent mostly in developing nations, such as Sri Lanka.

Even though Sri Lanka does not have as much high numbers of child marriage like other South Asian

nations, it is salient that this issue should still be discussed. In this literature review, factors of

intersectionality are used to take a look at the role child marriage plays in Sri Lanka. The factors listed

are gender, culture, religion, and socio-economic status. This paper also takes a deeper look into how

each factor specifically contributes to child marriage. While referring to sources such as UNICEF and

GirlsNotBrides, we can discuss the past, current trends, and how the future for child marriage looks in

Sri Lanka. Most importantly, can Sri Lanka eventually be recognized as a role model for the

elimination of child marriage? From all the research collected, it can be stated that with the right

changes, Sri Lanka can eliminate child marriage.

Keywords: child marriage, Sri Lanka, gender, culture, religion, socio-economic status


Page | 76

Q4 [73]

RETHINKING VIOLENCE, UNDERSTANDING DOMESTICITY:

A. Sinha

Ambedkar University, Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

The paper here presents the work done in a village of Chhattisgarh; called Dokal. The work was

premised on the incidents of domestic violence in the village. I will try to invoke the question of

‘domesticity’ through the stories of three women who were the victims of Domestic Violence. Story

of Lata Netam (Badi Maa), who can never bear a child and endure violence (manifested and latent)

silently. Second is the story of Duleshwari, who is a mother of three years old daughter and tolerate

physical and sexual violence by her husband and mother-in-law in order to get a boy child. Third is

the story of Lata Bai, who is a single woman and lives with her three children had an abusive husband

remembers her pain but at the same time desires it in order to get rid of the loneliness. I chose these

stories because I shared an intimate relation with these women. This work is premised on a critique of

androcentrism in women’s everyday in the village, even if domestic violence is not there. The

woman’s world rotates around the man; her pleasure also rotates around the man. The tragedy is that

the opposition to this in Dokal was also taking an androcentric form (man’s perspective). The

immediate solution to this problem is thought through Laathi (stick; a red blooded phallus). The

action research work, I tried to develop in Dokal was done with forty women from the village who

call themselves; Sangwari1 (I am also a part of this group). With the group, we were trying to find an

alternative to the issue by keeping ‘domestic’ in focus. Women’s everyday and women’s resistance

both have a problem. Thus, the work is to look into (re)subjectivation. Shifts from being a scared

woman to a resistant one to an empowered woman and again enters the house as a scared woman

makes the space and relationality between women in a group and members of a family much more

complex. With this paper, I will try to explain the understanding of domestic in these women’s lives

and how the space and relation of ‘domestic’ could be rethought?

Keywords: domesticity, violence, fear, care, Sangwari


Page | 77

R1 [74]

THE MARKETING OF FEMALE "SHE-AGRA": MEN AND WOMEN'S

PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN'S SEXUAL DESIRE

E. Friedmann and J. Cwikel


ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to examine gender differences in the perceived value of a drug to

treat women's female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and explore the factors that affect women's sexual

desire as perceived by both women and men. The effect of information on side effects and the

questionable efficacy of flibanserin (marketed as Addyi) on perceived value of the drug was also

examined among women and men. Survey data was collected from a convenience sample of 233

men and women with a current sexual partner who answered an online questionnaire. The results

showed that women and men assigned similar values to the medication, but after receiving

information about the drug, a larger decrease was observed in the evaluations of women. When

evaluating women's sexual desire, interpersonal variables such as communication with the partner

were significant among women but not among men. Huge challenges are expected when marketing

any drug to women for treatment of FSD as women are complex decision makers, who incorporate

interpersonal factors together with other factors when evaluating their sexual desire.

Keywords: sexual desire of women, sexual dysfunction, marketing Addyi, gender differences

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/advisorycommittees/committeesmeetingmaterials/drugs/drugsafetyandriskmanagementadvisorycommittee/ucm449090.pdf


Page | 78

R2 [75]

THE HIDDEN IDENTITY: EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF ONE OF THE

YOUNGEST TRANSGENDER WOMAN IN INDIA

A. Chawla

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

ABSTRACT

The transgender community in India today is subject to discrimination, antagonism and rejection, and

kept at bay from the normative paradigm set by society. Transgender individuals are excluded from

normal social and cultural life, and are not granted basic human rights because of their gender

dysphoria. This paper is the case analysis of a young woman dealing with stressful life situations and

consequent coping mechanisms employed, supported by suggested interventions. I embarked on this

project with the intention to understand the dilemmas and the coping mechanisms adopted by

members of the transgender community, after putting away my lens that proclaimed a gender binary.

A sixteen-year-old student, renowned for being one of the first few Indians outspoken about her

transgender identity, is the subject of this study. Her story has already struck a chord with people

across the country. The case study method employed an idiographic approach under which Free

Association, Semi-Structured Interview and the Bem’s Sex Role Inventory were administered.

Accordingly, the thematic analysis was conducted to focus on recurrent ideas like childhood

memories, hardships faced, societal influences, self-perception, physical and psychological concerns,

wishes, desires and future goals. The learned result was that the subject faced incredibly stressful

experiences and employed certain coping mechanisms that cisgender individuals do not.

Keywords: femininity, gender, sexuality, sex, transgender, and woman


Page | 79

R3 [76]

PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION FOR JAMAICAN TEEN MOMS: WHAT DOES

GENDER HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

T.A. McFarlane

The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Youth well-being has been the focus of various projects around the world. In Jamaica, these efforts

include improving outcomes for youth of lower socioeconomic status, with an eye to reducing the

vulnerabilities associated with this developmental stage and being of a low-resource background.

Among these, teenage girls who become pregnant are uniquely vulnerable: Without fundamental

supports the outcomes can be devastating for them, their children and their families. With reference to

a support group that is currently being facilitated at an urban high school in Jamaica, the author will

highlight the complexity of gender meanings and roles that affect efforts to increase resilience and

reduce risk among teen moms. Now in its fourth year, we have aimed to encourage collaborative

ownership of the project, strengthen the supportive features of the group, and safeguard its continuity.

The presenter will outline the project’s features, discuss challenges and triumphs we encountered, and

highlight the way psychological and socioculturally meaningful considerations of gender are

necessary to maintain the project and ensure its desired impact.

Keywords: youth well-being, teen moms, youth risk and resilience, youth PAR interventions


Page | 80

R4 [77]

THE GENDER SYMBOLISM PROCESS IS A WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT TOOL:

A CASE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES AWARENESS TRAININGS FOR

UPTAKE IN UGANDAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

R. Nsibirano

School of Women and Gender Studies, ,College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Uganda

ABSTRACT

Men, more than women, are socially privileged to access, play with, and use technologies. Such

experiences position them to create meanings of any technology they meet and to benefit from its use

while women remain disadvantaged. Gender symbolism is a process of creating and attaching

meaning that is influenced by interaction experiences. Scholars argue that [male and female]

individuals act on the basis of the meaning(s) that things, in this case e-resource have to them

(Benzies & Allen, 2001; Blumer, 2001; Skaggs & Barron, 2006). Therefore, a cross sectional study

was conducted to investigate the meaning creation process among faculty and its influence on the

uptake of e-Resources to support university teaching. A sample of 200 faculty was systematically

selected from two public universities in Uganda. Findings show that male and female university staff

have different interaction experiences and therefore varied meanings creation. It is the individual

support that female faculty receive that empowers them to increase access to and use of electronic

resources in teaching. Challenges such as limited technical staff to support users, power outages,

limited time affects awareness about existing electronic resources, user experiences and so affects

uptake differently for men and women. Increased awareness raising about the availability of

electronic resources, end user training and technical support is recommend for a positive gender

symbolism construction that will empower staff but most especially female for effective use of e-

Resource in their teaching.

Keywords: Use of e-Resources and Womens’ Empowerment, Gender Symbolism, Makerere

University, Public Universities


Page | 81

S1 [78]

WOMEN IN PEACE POLITICS OF NEPAL: STRUGGLES AND SUCCESS

B.R. Upreti

Nepal Center for Contemporary Research (NCCR), Nepal

ABSTRACT

Nepal is undergoing a massive transformation in the past 2 decades, from civil war to negotiated

peace, unitary to federal monarchical to republican political system and very low level of women in

socio-political and social spheres to one of best countries in terms of women’s participation in the

parliament with highly women-friendly constitutional provisions. The objective of this paper is to

critically examine the state of women’s participation in political structures especially in the

parliament, and women’s struggle and achievement. The methods used in this study are focus group

discussion, key informant interview, in-depth interview, and round table discussion. The data

collected for the study is analysed with descriptive-interpretative way. This paper argues that even

when women have struggle in taking political positions in parliament, participation of women was

quite positive as they were well represented in different senior positions ranging from President of

Nepal, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Speaker of the Parliament, judges, and many other positions.

One of the most important frameworks promoting women’s participation was the constitutional

provision of minimum 33 percent guarantee. This paper concludes that women’s participation in

socio-political sphere is positive and in right direction.


Page | 82

S2 [79]

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND STATE RESPONSES: A CASE STUDY OF THE DELHI

GANG RAPE CASE OF DECEMBER 2012, LESSONS FOR THE POST-COLONIAL

CONTEXT

P. Bakshi

University of Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

This study argues that the response of the Indian State to December 2012 gang rape was significant.

The responses as articulated through modalities of State bodies, State Committees and Commissions

and State actors were heterogeneous in nature. This research adopts a post-colonial feminist

methodology to textually examine the two reports; the Justice Verma Committee (JVC) and the

Justice Usha Mehra Commission (JUMC) which informed the Indian parliament in the formulations

of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013.

The argument that this paper seeks to make is that these differences pertain to the difference in the

fact that the JVC engaged extensively with the feminist presence in the post-colonial State of India

and their research on the aspects of sexual violence and hence this analysis and recommendations

reflected this engagement. The JUHC on the other hand seemed to have been driven by the Statist

agenda of engaging with the police and other agencies, and absolving them of any significant critical

reassessment. Thus, some progressive inroads were made into engaging with sexual violence in a

gender sensitive manner whilst foreclosing other possibilities.

Keywords: sexual violence, legal and judicial state responses


Page | 83

S3 [80]

CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE: A CASE STUDY OF BENAZIR BHUTTO PRIME

MINISTERSHIPS

Q.A. Bashir1, M.R. Shahid2 and M.D. Mohabbat1

1Department of History and Pakistan Studies, University of Gujrat, Pakistan

2Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Gujrat, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Benazir Bhutto was the first democratically elected female leader of the Muslim World in Modern

History. When she came into power, she inherited the legacy of General Zia-ul-Haq’s dictatorship and

establishment that created number of challenges for her government and refrained her from exercise

of the legitimate powers. The nature of those challenges was mainly political; but reasons that created

those challenges included gender biasness as well. Being head of Government in a Patriarchal society

she was faced with immense difficulties especially from Religious elite. Her Political opponents

exploited her on the basis of gender biasness and questioned her ability as head of Government. In the

light of above discussion this article attempts to highlight the problems faced by Benazir Bhutto being

the first women prime minister in the male chauvinist society of Pakistan. This study is organized into

two parts.

Challenge and response faced by Benazir in the first tenure of her prime Ministership (1988-

90)

Challenge and response faced by Benazir in the second tenure of her prime Ministership

(1993-1996)

Keywords: Benazir Bhutto, challenge, response, democracy, government


Page | 84

S4 [81]

FEMALE PARTICIPATION AND THE NATIONAL DECISION MAKING ON

WOMEN ISSUES IN PAKISTAN: COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF POST 2002

SCENARIO

R.Z. Malik

National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, QAU Islamabad, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Rights, problems and security of women are some of the most critical issues of the contemporary

world. Pakistan is not an exception. During the early years of independence, only a very few women

could get elected for the national legislature or Parliament of Pakistan. For the first time, through

Legal Framework Order (LFO) of 2002, the then president announced 33% reserved seats for

femalesin the parliament which brought more than 60 women in the National Assembly in the

elections of 2002. After this amendment, there had been three general elections in 2002, 2008 and

2013 in Pakistan. Two of these governments have completed their tenure and third one is going to

complete its tenure in 2018. All the three governments belonged to the political parties with different

political orientations i.e. Centre, Left and Right respectively. Such a huge number of women in the

parliament raised the expectations of the common people, particularly the women section of society

with reference to the protection of women’s rights in Pakistan through legislation. The present paper

will be an effort to analyzethe impacts of such an escalating number of female members in the

parliament on the legislation with reference to women. It will also be a study of the responses of male

and female parliamentarians sitting on government and opposition benches with reference to

legislation about women in Pakistan. For this purpose, particularly, the National Assembly debates

will be consulted along with other sources and some interviews of the parliamentarians.

Keywords: women, Pakistan, parliament, participation, legislation


Page | 85

S5 [82]

'STORIES FOR PURPOSE' USING DOCUMENTARY FILM AND

PARTICIPATORY FORUMS IN PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATION AND

REPORTING

S.L. Rooney-Harding

The Story Catchers, South Australia

ABSTRACT

Bringing the more feminine process of Storytelling to monitoring, evaluation and reporting.Using

documentary story and stakeholder participation in monitoring, evaluation and reporting. It’s the story

behind the numbers that bring a traditionally dry and boring process to life. Using Documentary

Videographers, Photographers, Participatory Media specialists and Monitoring, Evaluation Specialists

stories are produced that can be used for Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting, Communications and

PR purposes. Participatory media can also be used as a part of the monitoring, evaluation and

reporting process. This media is where the audience can play an active role in the process of

collecting, reporting, analysing and sharing media content. Communities can be upskilled to produce

participatory media. We work with monitoring and evaluation specialists and use a variety of

evidence-based methodologies to produce visual project case studies and visual monitoring and

evaluation reports. Monitoring and evaluation specialists produce a traditional written report. This

report and media previously collected is then used to create a short visual documentary (approx. 8-

10min) report to accompany the written report. Most of the work that we do is with government

agencies looking to bring their evaluations to life. The documentary reports have been used for policy

and legislation change.


Page | 86


Page | 87

POSTER

PRESENTATIONS


Page | 88


Page | 89

P1 [83]

HOPPING HURDLES: RESEARCH IN WOMEN’S AND GENDER & SEXUALITY

STUDIES

S.A. Howard

Princeton University, United States

ABSTRACT

The challenges in pursuing Women’s and Gender & Sexuality Studies scholarship can also serve as

the facets that are most exciting. The interdisciplinary nature requires researchers to not only be aware

of trends in other fields but also understand separate research methodologies. This manifests in

several different ways; from having to physically comb through libraries for different sources to

routinely needed to stay well-informed of several controlled vocabularies. Investigation into these

topics can also be triggering to some researchers in terms of past personal experiences, positionalities

or the desire to participate in specific activism which may not be accomplishable at the moment. The

need for self-care during the research process, not just when one is a student, but continuing

throughout ones time as a scholar has not been widely investigated. This poster hopes to remind

participants of the exciting challenges one encounters doing interdisciplinary research and highlight

the need for self-care during this process.

Keywords: research, self-care, libraries, women’s studies, gender studies


Page | 90

P2 [84]

WOMEN IN JAPANESE CONTEMPORARY ART

K. Masue


ABSTRACT

The women figures expressed in Japanese contemporary art have been interpreted in a wide variety of

ways. They were discussed in terms of its psychological and sociological meaning. They have been

seen as expressions of the artist’s own memories and mental images or as mirrors of contemporary

adult society, revealing things that reside deep within the hearts and minds of women and the desires

of men. In this presentation, they will be analyzed as representing the concept of Superflat, a wider

trend in Japanese contemporary art that adopted the two-dimensionality and decorativeness of

premodern Japanese painting while appropriating the popular culture of the West and the manga and

anime subculture unique to Japan. They raise the issue of to whom the works of art belong. In the

same way, they allow for the creation of a harmonious place of communication, bringing together

people with different political or religious ideas. It may have great potential for opening up paths to

new forms of creativity.

Keywords: art history, art critic, contemporary art, Japan, women, social community


Page | 91

VIRTUAL

PRESENTATIONS


Page | 92


Page | 93

[85]

KHADIJA: THE CARAVAN OWNER

M. Meilleur

Harvard Divinity School, United States

ABSTRACT

Historical accounts continually refer to Khadija, the first wife of the Prophet Mohammad, as a “rich,

merchant woman.” But what exactly does this mean? Through archival research, this presentation

outlines the operations of camel caravans during the 6th century AD/CE. It details what a several

month journey from Mecca to Damascus in a 100+ camel caravan must have been like. It analyzes the

potential cargo of aromatics and spices and lists their prices in the ancient world. It explains in detail

how Khadija made her wealth and the risks involved. It demonstrates that her life was contrary to the

role expectations for Muslim women by today’s Islamic fundamentalists. Finally, it shows how the

smallest investor in Mecca had a stake in this lucrative yearly endeavor and how it fuelled the city’s

cyclical trade operations. Research is drawn from the Sira and expert scholarship in the ancient

Arabian trade routes and related subjects. What is uncovered is a clear, comprehensive picture of this

aspect of Khadija and Mohammad’s lives.

Keywords: Early Islam, Pre-Islamic Arabia, Mecca, Camel Caravans, Mohammad


Page | 94

[86]

SEXUAL DIVERSITY AND GENDER IDENTITY IN SRI LANKAN PERSPECTIVE

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RIGHTS AND POSITION OF SEXUAL

MINORITIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF SRI LANKA

A.H. Wijayath

Attorney-at-Law, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

All human beings are acquired a set of rights since their birth and these rights are called as “Human

Rights”. These set of rights cannot be derogated due to the sexual orientation. The Constitution of Sri

Lanka states that all citizens are equal before the law and every citizen have same opportunity without

considering their sexual orientation. The Penal Code of Sri Lanka prescribes that the sex between men

and sex between women as an offence. This research mainly focused on sexual minorities and their

position in Sri Lankan Criminal Justice arena. Through this study the rights of sexual minorities and

penal laws relating to sexual behaviours will be discussed in a critical manner. Generally this work is

internet based research therefore scholarly work on the issue will be reviewed. This work identified

that there is a lacuna regarding the rights of sexual minorities and their position is nether most among

Sri Lankan society. Further it emphasizes that the anti homo sexual penal laws oppress sexual

minorities ceaselessly. The purpose of this research is gather qualitative information in relation to

rights of sexual minorities and it further analyzes the penal laws regarding homo sexual behaviours in

Sri Lankan Criminal Justice System .This qualitative information will help in the formulation of

recommendation to build up a better surrounding for sexual minorities and ameliorate their position in

Sri Lankan society.

Keywords: sexual minorities, human rights, criminal justice system, penal code, Sri Lankan society


Page | 95

[87]

“THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SAID”: A VISUAL WORK TO REFLECT ABOUT

URBAN FREEDOM AND WOMEN

C. Roselli

Faculty of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy

ABSTRACT

On May 2014, in Delhi, I participate at the workshop organized by the Indian artist Vani

Subramanian: “Opa/City: Gender, Space, Intersections”, for whom I was selected like fellow. I was

deep impressed from the wave of the violent events against women, that happened in India from

December 2012 and I started a new reflection about woman and its condition on the contemporary

society in India. For my studies, as urban researcher, I started from considerations on the

contemporary urban spaces and on the role of the woman alone in society. Then I focused on the

woman reality on the Indian metropolises. I developed thoughts about gender diversity and also to the

capacity of dreams (connected with the hope of realization) related to it, specifically joined to the

complex and fascinating contemporary Indian culture; considering that Indian cities and their

inhabitants are presenting unique specificities joined also to the permanence of their ancient culture.

The video presents a night walk, that I made in Delhi. It is a visual story, on the images, there are

subtitles. I composed a poem to express my feelings related to the night walk in Delhi. The art work

was made in India, and it contains a reflection that is taking inspiration from the binomial: sacred

bodies and sexualized bodies.“Here the bodies are so sacred and so abused. The sacred and the

abused are living and breathing in this city. Illness and beauty are screaming everyday on these

roads.” (Claudia Roselli, 2014) The reflection was amplified, from my point of view, as non-Indian

woman, and it was precisely contextualized inside the contemporary Indian cultural transformations,

that are passing also through the way of dressing and of presenting oneself socially.

“ In this visual document of Delhi city by night, Claudia Roselli invites us to think of the intimacy and

strangeness of India - its ability to arouse both pity and fear in the foreign visitor who craves

experience of even that which cannot be understood. The beauty of the female figure clad in a silken

sari, hair flowing, walking the streets of Delhi alone is a challenge set against the ugly reality of the

violence to be encountered there. In Delhi, the streets are not for women after sunset. Being alone and

being a woman are crimes equal in nature after dark.” (Review by Prof Dr (Ms) Amrit Srinivasan,

PhD Cambridge, Sociologist / Social Anthropologist, 2015)

Keywords: telling women’s stories, women and urban freedom, visual art and poetry, India, urban

bodies


Page | 96

[88]

THE WORKING WOMEN TABOO: A QUALITATIVE STUDY BY SYRIAN

REFUGEE WOMEN

Z. Karadsheh

Kingston University

ABSTRACT

Refugee women encounter many trials prior to arriving in Jordan and face ongoing challenges

associated with re-settlement. Despite the hardship and continued victimisation refugees face, they

continuously demonstrate enormous strength and resilience that help facilitate their resettlement

process and attain financial stability with disregard to their cultural restrictions. However, this

research suggests that practitioners working with refugees tend to focus on the trauma story and

neglect the stories of their strengths. This means resilience is overshadowed by dominant Western

deficits approaches that defines women as traumatised victims. Pathologising refugees may further

alienate them from inclusion into the Jordanian life by denying their inherent resilience in the face of

extraordinary life experiences. This article articulates the results of eight interviews with Syrian

refugee women expressing the factors that promotes resilience such as social support, personal

qualities, religion and comparison to others. The interviews also identify elements that may impede

resilience including: racism, patriarchal institution of thought, language. The aim of this research is to

address the refugee situation from a strengths perspective and consider applications for anti-

oppressive approaches. This research is directed to empower refugee women and women from the

Middle East, whom are bounded by the patriarchal institution of thought to enhance their conditions

economically, socially and emotionally.

Keywords: Syrian refugees, women, resilience, obstructs, strength, patriarchal, Middle East


Page | 97

[89]

THE EFFECTS OF HUSBAND’S ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND WOMEN’S

EMPOWERMENT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN INDIA: INSIGHTS FROM

NFHS-4

A. Parekh

Monk Prayogshala, India

ABSTRACT

In past literature, husband’s alcohol consumption has consistently emerged as a risk factor for

domestic violence. Indeed, the recently released National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS) of India

similarly found that two-thirds of women whose husbands often get drunk have experienced spousal

physical or sexual violence, compared with 21 percent of the women whose husbands do not drink

alcohol. Alcohol consumption diminishes the husband’s capacity to work and contribute substantially

to the household, causing the wife to seek employment. This may lead to gender imbalances within

the marriage. According to the concept of gender deviance neutralization, women’s superior resources

are perceived as gender deviant and result in compensatory masculine displays of violence. Using data

from the Domestic Violence and Women’s Empowerment modules of the NFHS-4, this paper

assesses the extent to which violence perpetrated by husbands who consume alcohol is mediated by

variables of women’s empowerment. Using multivariate logistic regressions, the study tests the

hypothesis that women who are more empowered, as assessed by variables such as larger magnitude

of women’s earnings, household decision making power, among others, would have higher exposure

to domestic violence. Given the nationally representative nature of the data set, the results of this

study highlight the nuanced challenges to violence prevention. Results of this study are informative to

policymakers and social workers working to address gender inequality and violence against women.

Keywords: domestic violence, India, alcohol consumption, women’s empowerment


Page | 98

[90]

BRACKETING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND GENDER PERSPECTIVE

IN THE UNIVERSITY CONTEXT

V.S. Nirban1 , T. Shukla1 and D. Dosaya1

1BITS Pilani, India

ABSTRACT

Information Technology interventions have transformed lifestyles, societies and economies globally

in various fields. Not only the developed but the developing countries have also opened up towards

accepting technology as an integral step to move ahead. The field of education is not untouched from

this transformation rather it remains the most affected due to the catalyzing effect that education

creates in contributing towards development. Despite having lot of benefits, technology acceptance

still remains a challenge in the current education scenario. Moreover, there exists a gender inequality

in access and use of technology in education. It is seen that fewer women than men are able to make

use of technological interventions in the developing countries. This study attempts to address this

gender gap and look at the factors that contribute in such discrepancy by studying the users’ attitudes

towards Learning Management Systems (LMS) in an engineering institute in India. The data was

collected from students and teachers of the institute on the basis of the factors indicated by the Unified

Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model. Apart from this, qualitative analysis

was also conducted by the means of structured interviews. The results indicated that acceptance of

LMS in women users was considerably affected by the degree to which they considered it easy to use

and also by social influence from colleagues and senior management. Thus it becomes clear that

Effort Expectancy and Social Influence play an important role in acceptance or rejection of available

technology aides in education among women.

Keywords: learning management system, UTAUT model, learning management system, gender

inequality, effort expectancy, social influence


Page | 99

[91]

WOMEN’S SPORTS IN INDIA : A FEMINIST REVIEW

M. Mondal

Department of Physical Education , Gushkara Mahavidyalaya, Gushkara, Purba

Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Women’s sports include amateur and professional competitions in virtually all sports. Female

participation in sports rose dramatically in the twentieth century, especially in the last quarter,

reflecting changes in modern-societies that emphasized gender equality. Although the level of

participation still varies greatly by country and by sports, women’s sports have gained broad

acceptance throughout the world. Sports is all forms of usually competitive physical activity which

through casual or organized participation, aim to use maintain or improve physical ability and skills

while providing entertainment to participants and in some cases spectators. Woman is the mother of

the race and is the liaison between generations. Indian culture attaches much importance to this

section of society. The feminist method is a means of conducting scientific investigations and

generating theory from an explicitly feminist standpoint. Feminist methodologies are varied, but send

to have a few common aims or characteristics, including seeking to overcome biases in research,

bringing about social change, displaying human diversity and acknowledging the position of the

researcher. Sports for women were viewed as medium for social interaction rather than competitive or

physically beneficial activities. The shift was enabled by events and phenomena such as increased

education for women and changes in our society’s attitude toward women’s sports overtime. As

society had adapted to changing times, femininity, modesty and tolerance have been redefined. As

these terms have gained new meaning, female sports have gained a new role within our society.

Society has overcome the barriers that those terms represented in this old context. Women will keep

fighting for completely equal status with men on and off the playing field as long as society continues

to support them. In essence, it has become more socially acceptable for women to take on physically

rigorous activities as they have displayed their ability to take on mentally strenuous occupations.

Keywords: women’s sports, feminist, physical ability, femininity


Page | 100

[92]

GENDER AND SECURITY – WOMEN MILITARY SERVICE IN SOCIAL

PERSPECTIVE – HISTORY, PRESENT, LAW, COMMUNICATION

B. Drapikowska

War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

The presentation concerns the role of the women in national security by the example of women

military service. I would like to present results of my own research in this area. Armies are institutions

created by men for centuries. In the context of war women are almost always noticed only in specific

situations mainly as fulfillment of the lack of male resources, e.g. during the Second World War. The

situation has started to change due to feministic movement in United States. Nowadays women are the

minority in armies. They are dominated by masculine style of work and communication. It is related

to gender, culture, stereotypies and society`s mentality. The role of women in each army is the

projection of woman`s role in society in particular country. For many male soldiers this is quite

inconvenient because of sexual and gender diversity. What is more they consider women as a

problematic issue because this needs a lot of severe changes both in army and social mentality.

However, the research shows that there are places on the world where the female resources are the

necessity. It is because feminine nature gives them great possibility to make good contact with local

civilians and to provide them the best help.

Keywords: women in army, women military service, gender and security


Page | 101

[93]

GENDER IDENTITY AND LEADER SELF-AWARENESS: A RESEARCH ON

CHINESE UNIVERSITY FEMALE STUDENT LEADERS

Y. Wang

Beijing Foreign Studies University, People’s Republic of China

ABSTRACT

Though women have been leaders in all walks of life, studies show that female have the tendency to

underestimate their behaviors as leaders, which largely prevents them from further development—

entering senior level management in leadership. The low leader self-awareness of women leads to the

situation. Gender identity of women may be the cause to their low leader self-awareness. University

years are an essential period for leader self-awareness development, but gender perspective was

seldom taken in studies. So, this research focused on the relation between gender identity and leader

self-awareness of university female student leaders to add to literature. In order to better describe

female student leaders’ gender identity, the androgynous theory was adopted. The research has two

phases. Both questionnaire and interview were used in this research. In phase I, 50 female student

leaders from Beijing Foreign Studies University filled in the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and Multifactor

Leadership Questionnaire Form 6s. Based on the participants’ gender identity categories, 4 of them

were chosen to receive the interview in phase II. Gender role performance theory was applied in the

analysis. The present research found that although female student leaders’ identification with feminine

is higher than that with masculine, the non-sex typed gender identity categories are the main

categories for them. Both the identification degrees with feminine and masculine are in positive

correlations with leader self-awareness. The ideal leader for female student leaders is an androgynous

role, which is different from the stereotype that leader role is a masculine role, and that is the main

cause to the positive correlation. School and family education may have influence on female student

leaders’ leader self-awareness construction. Based on the results, families and schools are suggested

to avoid emphasizing gender traits in portraying leader image, and encourage female students to be

leaders to help them realize their potentials.


Page | 102

[94]

EXPLORING THE GENDER DIGITAL DIVIDE: CONNECTING ICT

AND WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

T. Shukla1 and V.S. Nirban1

1BITS Pilani, India

ABSTRACT

Transnationally, the association between gender and ICT is through the Sustainable Development

Goal 4 (Education) and SDG 5 (Gender equality) which are combined efforts aimed at terminating the

gender digital divide. With the commencement of information communication technology spread and

deterioration in affordability of access devices, the entrepreneurial domain has experienced an

exponential growth. It is commonly acknowledged that ICT offers enormous prospects for the

inclusive social- economic development of Developing Countries. Nevertheless, ICT is still not used

by women entrepreneurs in India, on the other hand, various initiatives are sanctioned by the

government directed towards women’s economic empowerment through ICT. A marked observation

is the acknowledged gender digital divided which is increasing in many developed countries. The aim

of this paper is to show the place of women in evolving spans of information technology and to

examine the means in which IT has expanded women in terms of entrepreneurship. With the help of

narrative enquiry and interview analysis of first generation entrepreneurs, the study examines how

women’s intervention has been influenced by ICT‐aided networking paths for women’s

empowerment. With the governments’ persistent emphasis on women empowerment and

the digital economy, the concern becomes more stimulating to probe. In the light of aforesaid issues,

the present study explores the gender digital divide connecting ICT and women entrepreneurship by

categorizing the accountable factors.

Keywords: ICT, gender, entrepreneurs, women


Page | 103

[95]

UNDERSTANDING MASCULINITY IN PASTORAL COMMUNITIES IN

NORTHERN KENYA

J.J. Kottutt

Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH), Emory University, Gerogia

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose:

Pastoralists are communities that depend on livestock for their livelihood. Masculinity and femininity

in African contexts are not mutually exclusive and are typically defined by the role and contribution

of each sex in sustaining their livelihood. This abstract contextualizes masculinity in pastoral

communities and suggests a way of conceptualizing Women’s Studies in African settings.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional exploratory qualitative research was conducted from June through August of 2016

in Marsabit and Isiolo counties. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 4 groups of 12 participants

(young women and men 15-40 years a child <2 years; older women and men >45 years) were

recruited at the ward level using purposive sampling techniques. 66 detailed notes were read, ‘memo-

ed’, and coded using MAXQDA_12 and themes were developed.

Results:

Masculinity was characterized by division of labor, and valuation of the contributions made to the

household. Men were the main caretakers (herding, milking, and buying/selling) of all the animals. It

was unlikely for men to perform women’s duties except if they were ‘Moraans’, who mostly lived

outside of community and were typically young unmarried men. Women’s roles and duties were

typically undervalued and disregarded compared to men’s because they didn’t involve access and

control of the livestock.

Conclusion:

Gender equality cannot be attained without ensuring gender equity, illustrated through role in and

contributions to the household, especially in intertwined communities. In order to fully understand the

influences of the surrounding on the individual, it is paramount for Women’s Studies to use the

socioecological approach, especially in African settings.

Keywords: masculinity, pastoralism, livelihood


Page | 104

[96]

RE-NARRATING THE SELF

S. Bhat

University of Western Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT

This paper is an inquiry into the urge to re-narrate the self in feminist autobiographies, through a

reading of Gayathri Prabhu’s memoir, If I had to tell it Again, which was released in December 2017

in India. Prabhu’s memoir is an intrepid unfolding of the fragmented memories of unsafe footing in

the world of girlhood and adulthood, clinical depression, and passionate love and pain within the

spaces of family. As the title suggests, this memoir is a project of retelling, correcting, negotiating,

and reconstructing which take place through weaving the gaps and silences. This paper reads the

memoir as a reflection on women’s autobiographical writing through the following questions- what is

the nature of the narrative when retelling is the only way of telling? How does one re-narrate a self

when the self is not a free floating agent, but has been given a script in the social and historical

milieu? How do public scrutiny and stigma affect the process and style of life writing about mental

health and child sexual abuse? What is the role of increasing right-wing politics in India in shaping

the style of personal narratives of women? Exploring these questions, I will argue that writing about

self in feminist autobiographies is a project of rewriting the existing discourse about self. This paper

reads the memoir as an interrogation of the limits of the project imagined by the terms

‘memoir/autobiography’ in the theories of self and narrative.

Keywords: memoir, narrative and the self, mental health, abuse


Page | 105

[97]

IS THERE AN OUTSIDE TO THE CLOSET?

S. Bhat

University of Western Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT

Delineating Sedgwick’s arguments about silence, and the separation between the axes of sexuality and

gender in her work Epistemology of the closet, this paper attempts to understand closet as a nature of

knowledge about sexuality, rather than the stage of development through which one “passes.” This

paper traces Sedgwick’s debt to Foucault by reading sexuality in the light of Foucault’s arguments

about silence and extending these concerns for the productive effects of discourse to the realm of

“ignorance.” Drawing from Foucault and Sedgwick, this paper attempts to see ignorance as a locus

upon which discursive category of closet is called into question, by opening the possibilities of

resistance and change. As ignorance is an inevitable part of this knowledge system, one is always in

the stages of discovering and rediscovering one’s sexuality, and hence permanently caught within the

closet. Mapping sexuality onto a different axis than gender, Sedgwick frees sexuality to its indefinite,

moreover, infinite possibilities. Sexuality spans across multiple sites, runs through multiple nodes,

and opens up different permutations and combinations. This paper attempt to understand this

theoretical move as rendering the person an insurmountable amount of agency, allowing that person to

choose from a vast range of possibilities which cannot possibly be exhausted. There would always

remain unseen territories, and untrodden paths of pleasure and desire. This paper, by queering

everyone, attempts to argue that there is no outside to closet. It also explores the questions regarding

the relevance of this theoretical move to the queer politics in the realm of activism.

Keywords: sexuality, gender, closet


Page | 106

[98]

TRAVERSING THE CRACKS IN THE EMPOWERMENT NARRATIVE

U. Sinha

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to deconstruct the contemporary narrative of women empowerment by unearthing the

intrinsic paradox between the mechanisms of capitalism and the crux of women empowerment.

Inherent to our argument is the assumption that capitalism derives its momentum from a culture of

instant gratification, and an increasing dismissal of global environmental consequences. According to

Srilatha Batliwala, the concept of empowerment essentially was intended to shake the foundations of

patriarchal power structures, but today it has become depoliticized and subverted –a “magic bullet”.

In light of this argument, there is an attempt to problematize and deconstruct how our notions of

empowerment are influenced by this culture of instant gratification. This study seeks to highlight the

way in which the definitions of empowerment that we operate with today have become overarching

and vague, while there is a need for nuanced, ethnocentric definitions to cater to the lived experiences

of women from different backgrounds. This paper will demonstrate the need for a long-term

transformatory approach in place of a capitalistic instrumental approach, and will utilize theoretical as

well as empirical research to support it’s results.

Keywords: empowerment, capitalism, instant gratification, ethnocentrism, women empowerment,

patriarchy


Page | 107

[99]

WOMEN AND INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION :TREND OR PARADIGM

SHIFTS

M. Kaushik

New Delhi Institute of management (NDIM), New Delh, India

ABSTRACT

In today’s global economy, Indian industries require talented pool of candidates in order to create a

competitive edge to address the global challenges that corporations face in present scenario. To

address these global trends one lies in the capacity of leadership to manage changes effectively and to

capture global opportunities and having more women on top management positions can help

organizations a real competitive edge by spreading various leadership practices within organizations.

A key source of talent is educated Indian women, global economic reforms along with the gradual

opening up of a conservative society to a modern society. This conceptual research paper analyzes

how women have experienced the disadvantages of existing in a patriarchal framework designating

them in a homemaker role and how women in business now, have broken that mould across the world.

This paper also analyses a paradigm shifts from traditional views, stereotypes and societal attitudes to

giving more and more opportunities to women to move up the higher ladder. The objective of writing

this paper is to focus on an urgent need to develop leadership effectiveness among women executives

to break through the glass-ceiling and increase women’s participation in Indian organizations. The

researcher has also suggested and recommended certain ways to develop leadership skills in women

executives to take full advantage of the various educational avenues and participate in various

leadership development programmes that have been made available to them as there has arisen a

greater impetus for women to enter leadership roles.


Page | 108

[100]

THE ROLE OF RESEARCHER’S POSITIONALITY IN THE CREATION OF

KNOWLEDGE

F. Tayyab

School of Sociology & Social Policy, University of Leeds, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Positionality of the researcher and power relations in the field are a crucial part of qualitative

research to gain rich data. Positionality is influenced by many factors including the informed

consent, being insider vs. outsider and continuous negotiations of power positions between

the researcher and the participants. This paper is an effort to highlight the concerns regarding

the position of the researcher and its implications for the quality of data while in pressure due

to the standard ethical rules provided by the universities. The study is based on the

perceptions of women regarding domestic violence in Pakistan. Twenty-four qualitative in-

depth interviews were conducted in the urban and the rural context with married women

belonging to the Christian and the Muslim faith. These women were approached through the

help of organisations working with women of both these faiths. Participants were from

middle and lower socio-economic groups. The field experiences of the researcher reveals that

it is difficult to implement the standard rules of research in Pakistan as the sample of the

study were uneducated women and a general understanding about the research was limited.

Participants do not foresee any potential benefits of narrating experiences of domestic

violence when recalling would be painful and distressing. Sharing of the same language,

culture, and gender do not always contribute in the role of the researcher as being insider as

the participants also build the identity of the researcher.

Keywords: positionality, ethics, research identity, power positions,


Page | 109

[101]

“REPRESENTATIONS OF WOMEN’S ROLE IN PAKISTAN: A CRITICAL

ANALYSIS THROUGH DRAMA SERIALS”

A. Fatima

Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The concept of honour and the resulting discourses have always affected women’s lives in Pakistan.

This paper will utilize Butler’s theory of performativity and insights from feminist film theory and

women’s history in Pakistan to critique and evaluate women’s representation in Pakistani popular

cultural texts, and thus engage with the politics of gender in Pakistan. The methodological tools of

content analysis and discourse analyses will be used to investigate the central research question that

is: to what extent does the representation of women’s roles in contemporary Pakistani drama serials

include traditionalist discourses of honour?’ It will thus examine that ‘how’ women are represented in

Pakistani soap operas or drama serials and what it means to be a ‘honourable’ woman. This will

reveal that despite modernization and increased female education and labor participation, honour

discourses still continue to be the most dominant feature of a woman’s life on screen and in pop

culture. Research shows that some of the most prominent concepts that are influenced by honour

discourses include marriage, domestic violence, economic roles, labor participation, silencing of

victims of sexual harassment or rape and even one’s religious standing. The study shows how

important it is to investigate these cultural texts with gendered lenses and gain a deeper understanding

of the challenges women in this part of the world face.

Keywords: Pakistani dramas, women’s roles, honor, domestic violence, religion, marriage


Page | 110

[102]

SOCIO-CULTURAL INERTIA AND WOMEN’S VULNERABILITY: A CASE

STUDY ON SANITATION PRACTICES

R. Ramesh1 and R.R. Bhavani2

1Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,

Kollam, India

2Ammachi Labs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, India

ABSTRACT

Intense initiatives making India, open defecation free has been the key highlight of the Governmental

and Non-Governmental Organizations for the past several years. Recent studies envisioned that

providing infrastructural support alone is not enough to provide a solution, in parallel, it is important

to entail operation and maintenance of these facilities along with inculcating behaviour change

initiatives in the people using them. The purpose of the current case study was to explore the

influence of cultural beliefs women have in practicing safe sanitation. The study was carried out in

three rural villages in India (Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh) with varied socio-cultural and

economic background. The study exercised semi structured interview and group discussions with the

women under three age groups to identify their perception on hygiene and sanitation; on what

activities they perceive as important, to an effective healthy lifestyle. Inferences from the study

revealed that the relationship between religious/cultural beliefs on sanitation practices were high

among the elderly while some of the beliefs are being carried forward to the younger generation. Even

though young age girls are more aware of the harmful effects of open defecation, practicing safe

sanitation behaviour is difficult due to social pressure. Any choices and behaviours related to water

and sanitation are found to be deeply rooted in cultural contexts. Therefore we concluded that, to

effectively implement any sustainable solution or interventions in these villages, it is important to

incorporate solution which caters to the need either based on cultural beliefs, gender or generational

differences.

Keywords: sanitation, open defecation, cultural perception, women empowerment, access to water


Page | 111

[103]

AN INCLUSIVE GRASSROOTS APPROACH FOR THE POST-FEMINIST ERA: A

CASE STUDY OF SRI LANKA

S. De Visser

ABSTRACT

A large portion of Feminist thought has been shaped by the West and by the privileged. Although the

feminist movement has spread far and wide, decades later, feminist theory continues to be

predominantly dictated by the ideals of Western middle-class women leaving very little room or

opportunity for the masses of women globally to contribute to and benefit from. Three decades ago

feminist and social activist Bell Hooks noted “Feminism in the United States has never emerged from

the women who are most victimized by sexist oppression; women who are daily beaten down,

mentally, physically, and spiritually- women who are powerless to change their condition in life. They

are a silent majority” 4 The ‘silent majority’ are the women that are most in need of the advancement

that the feminist movement has brought forth. However they often find it beyond their reach. While

acknowledging the great strides that have been made by women globally to fight against patriarchy

and strive towards achieving equal opportunities, it must be noted that in many places the oppressed

and marginalized still have limited opportunity to engage in feminist discourse and work on a national

and local level. This paper will study the feminist movement in Sri Lanka exploring its origins, reach,

exclusivity and accessibility and offer an inclusive grassroots approach, with special focus on

storytelling and diversification of feminist voices, to the future of feminism and Women’s Studies.

Furthermore Sri Lanka as a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, post-colonial, post-conflict nation with an

emerging economy offers unique insight to other nations with similar contexts.

Keywords: feminism, grassroots, post-feminist era, inclusive, global, storytelling

4 Hooks, Bell. Feminist Theory: from Margin to Center. Routledge, 2015.


Page | 112

[104]

WHO PERPETRATES VIOLENCE ON OWN SPOUSES? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

B. Thomas1, H.P. Trivedi1, R. Subhash1 and S.N. Pathak1

1 Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

Perpetration of violence by men on their spouses is taking place around the world while a general

understanding of the underlying precipitating factors for this violence remains limited and significant

knowledge about its root causes is lacking. It is very important to understand the version of spouse

violence from the perpetrator’s perspectives too in order to have a complete comprehension of this

violence and their violent behavior. A 24 item Men’s Childhood Experience of Gender Inequity Scale

[MCE-GE] and an 18 item Men’s Childhood Experience of Violence Scale [MCE-V] are developed

as part of this study as there were no cultural context tools available to assess these variables. In order

to find out whether their childhood gender inequity attitude and violence experiences bear any impact

on the prevalence of spouse violence of men, a study in multiple sites representing a range of gender

equality and development indices within Gujarat, India is conducted and the findings indicate that

there are very strong statistically significant links between childhood violence experiences and the

perpetration of violence against women in adulthood, and this cycle of violence is facilitated and

fuelled by the perpetrators’ childhood gender inequity experiences.

Keywords: childhood violence experiences, childhood gender inequity experiences, spouse violence,

perpetration of violence


Page | 113

[105]

REVISITING THE TERMS OF THE PATRIARCHAL BARGAIN: EXPLORING

THE GENDER POLITICS OF HOUSEHOLD MONEY MANAGEMENT IN RURAL

NEPAL

L. Gram1, J. Skordis-Worrall 1, J. Mannell1, G. Shannon1, D. Manandhar 2, N. Saville 1

and J. Morrison 1

1Institute for Global Health, University College London, United Kingdom

2Mother Infant Research Activities, Nepal

ABSTRACT

Although power struggles between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law in the South Asian

household remain an enduring theme of feminist scholarship, current policy discourse on ‘women’s

economic empowerment’ in the Global South has tended to focus on women’s power in their spousal

relationship to the neglect of intergenerational power dynamics. We conducted a qualitative study of

42 households from the Plains of Nepal involving semi-structured interviews with 15 mothers-in-law,

3 senior daughters-in-law, 22 junior daughters-in-law, and 20 husbands. The aim of the study was to

explore the gender politics of money management in the contemporary rural Nepali household. Our

study uncovered numerous ways in which junior wives and husbands in the extended family became

secret allies in a quest for financial autonomy from the rule of the mother-in-law. Most prominently,

husbands sometimes secretly transferred part of their income to their wife to save up for a household

separation from the in-laws. Anticipating such a move by the junior couple, extended household

members sought to keep the daughter-in-law and husband financially apart by restricting their access

to cash, which only further strengthened the junior couple’s incentive to separate. We argue these

household processes reflect a re-negotiation of Kandiyoti’s ‘patriarchal bargain’ wherein junior

married women trade their own autonomy for economic security and the opportunity to attain the

privileges of becoming a mother-in-law later in life. Researchers, activists and policy-makers

concerned with women’s economic empowerment need to consider the impact of intergenerational

power relations on women’s control over cash.

Keywords: empowerment, agency, money management, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law


Page | 114

[106]

GENDER CONSIDERATION IN ADMITTANCE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

FACILITIES IN PAKISTAN

S. Akram1, R.N. Alam1 and N. Li2

1Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan

2Sun-Yat -Sen University China, China

ABSTRACT

Articles deals with those culturally embedded patterns and behaviors that restrict women’s access to

reproductive health facilities. Gender consideration in obtaining basic health right is impacting

phenomena in developing countries, where Pakistan is not an exception. Data is based on ethnography

of suburban area Faisalabad, Data collection tools were face to face interviews and case studies.

Major influence of gender imbedded norms was identified in access the knowledge and practices of

reproductive health, utilization of contraception methods and choice of delivery center for women. It

was concluded that change of behaviors can only be brought through change in socialization during

brought up of kids.

Keywords: right of knowledge, utilization of contraceptive methods (natural, scientific methods),

spousal communication and fertility decision making, unwanted pregnancies, choice of delivery

center


Page | 115

[107]

EMPOWERING SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN THROUGH ACCESSIBLE

EDUCATION–ACHIEVEMENTS OF BANGLADESH

H. Barua

Jawaharlal Nehru University, School of International Studies in JNU, New Delhi, India

ABSTRACT

Societies around the world are experiencing a wind of change by progressively realizing the

importance of empowering women. Women empowerment is the manifestation of gender equality

which is the forerunner to move a country ahead. Women will, in true sense achieve freedom when

they begin to receive equal opportunity and be empowered in a more tangible manner. It has become

one of the most important matters of interest among the policy makers of developing nations.

Education is considered to be the key to upgrade an individuals’ well-being and ameliorate nations’

economy and improve its social development. Even the Millennium Development Goal 3 recognizes

and thus promotes access to female education as it is associated with multifarious developmental

aspects such as education, eliminating poverty, occupation, economy, decision making, political

representation etc. Although the socio-political and economic status of South Asian women is quite

uneven, Bangladesh has a different story to tell. Despite being a patriarchal society, Bangladesh has

made significant achievements over the past two decades to an extent of outstripping some of its

neighbours including India. Their rising participation in all sectors has brought about impressive

outcomes to the national development. This paper has been divided in to three sections. Based on the

available literature, reports the paper firstly attempts to discuss Bangladesh’s achievements in

empowering its women in various fields especially through access to education. Secondly, the paper

aims to explore the barriers in terms of women empowerment that Bangladesh is yet to overcome.

Lastly, it concludes with an overview analysis of Bangladesh’s status in terms of strengthening its

female population.

Keywords: women empowerment, sustainable development, education, Bangladesh, South Asia


Page | 116

[108]

FILLING UP THE GAPS BETWEEN FORMAL AND INFORMAL WOMEN: LAW

REFORMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATUS OF SRI LANKAN

DOMESTIC WORKING WOMEN

J.A.I. Kumarasinghe


ABSTRACT

Currently Sri Lanka is more focused on its economic development. Informal economy plays a major

role in the development of the country. There are no well-established legal frameworks for the

protection of formal workers, they have been neglected from the beneficiaries. Women engaging in

domestic work can be considered as a vulnerable group of informal workers who has to face multiple

challenges due to the lack of a legal protection mechanism. Suffering of Sri Lankan domestic workers

who are residing in Sri Lanka have become unnoticed under the current legal framework. Present

research focuses on this grey area. The main objective of the research is to analyze the existing legal

framework and emphasize the importance of a strong legal framework to address the issues faced by

such women. An empirical research methodology is used in this research. Initially a survey was

conducted in Kandy area as a step to gather information regarding the difficulties faced by women

engaged in informal work. Thereafter an analysis of data was conducted with the objective to identify

the issues more clearly and the areas where law address such issues. Then a legal analysis was carried

out to identify the current legal framework and gaps in the framework. Finally, recommendations are

suggested to fill up the gaps. The recommendations are suggested with the intention of uplifting the

lives of informal worker by giving legal protection to their rights. Statutes of both international and

domestic contexts are used as primary data. Text books and journal articles are used as secondary

data.

Keywords: informal economy, legal framework, informal worker, legal protection, informal worker’s

rights


Page | 117

[109]

SECULARISM, DEMOCRACY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS: INDIA IN A GLOBAL

CONTEXT

S.B. Banerjee

Krishnath College, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

My paper would be a modest contribution to understanding some of the key issues surrounding the

UN Sustainable Development Goal of promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies. In the context

of the global rise of religio-cultural fundamentalism I would harp on the mutual contingencies of the

political ideals of democracy and secularism on the one hand and the promotion of the rights of the

private individual on the other. Specifically, I would focus on the correlation between a secular

democratic state machinery and gender equity—something that, I believe, has not been emphasised

enough in contemporary feminist studies.

As a political commentator and feminist academic based in India I would concentrate on the case of

my own country. In the backdrop of recent setbacks to the ethos of pluralistic democracy in India I

would make a case for the absolute value of secularism as a state ideal. My ultimate aim would be to

highlight the inter-dependencies of secularism, minority rights and women’s liberty in a multi-

religious and multi-ethnic country like India. Inter alia, I would also argue that India should move

towards the abolition of religion-specific legal systems, like the Muslim Personal Law, and quasi-

legal formations like the Hindu Khap panchayats in favour of a uniform legal framework applicable

to all Indians irrespective of religion. Mine would be a conceptual-theoretical methodology that would

yet make use of empirical tools like relevant survey/media reports and analyses of data garnered from

authentic sources, both scholarly and popular.

Keywords: democracy, secularism, fundamentalism, India, Muslim personal law, uniform civil code


Page | 118

[110]

“I’M NOT YOUR DALIT”; ISSUES OF IDENTITY AND SOLIDARITY

J. Brunnekreef

Independent Researcher/ Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands

ABSTRACT

Within the Dalit movement, similar to the black movement in the US, there is a strong sentiment and

opinion going on that challenges the way white scholars and policymakers, and people who consider

themselves as part of the solidarity movement. This part of the Dalit Women movement is extremely

critical about non-Dalits portraying issues that they consider 'theirs'. For the solidarity movement this

results in painful reactions stemming from the feeling of being disgraced as 'enemies' almost. It is

leading to a reconsideration about our own ways of thinking and imaging, becoming aware of new

perspectives. As an anthropologist I am very interested in the boundaries there are/may be about how

we think and write about 'the other', even if the intentions are considered to be good (like in

'solidarity'). These boundaries are changing along with changes in our world. That has always been

the case, in a way. But maybe we can rightfully say that new boundaries in that sense are coming into

existence, due to changes in power structures worldwide, including gender structures. The issue is

also closely connected to the discourse of imaging, and in that sense to academic discussions in line

with orientalism. My approach is answering to the rules of academic work, but stems also from a

very personal background, where the issue of identity also comes in. Since I was married at a young

age with a Sri Lankan and lived in Sri Lanka as well.

Keywords: Dalits, solidarity, identity, gender, imaging


Page | 119

[111]

EARLY MARRIAGE: PROSPECTS OF SCHOOLGIRLS

Bhandari, N.R.

Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS)

ABSTRACT

Nepal is one of the highest child marriage prevalence countries in the world; the prevalence is even

higher in terai region. Marriage has the closest relation with education. The general assumption is that

school going girls are safer than out of school and dropped out girls from marrying earlier. To explore

the perspectives of school going girls on child marriage, I conducted this qualitative research at 5

schools of Dhanusha. My research participants were 60 schoolgirls from grade 9 to 10. I reviewed the

previous research reports, national statistics and legal documents on child marriages and discussed

them with girls’ perception to generate the findings. In girls view, society, neighbors, senior citizen of

community, relatives and religious leaders are the main agent who bring marriage proposal to family,

since they reach thirteen. Schoolgirls are well known about the relation of age, education, marriage

and dowry. To avoid arrange marriage and dowry in early age, sometime they do self-marriage. The

conclusion of their perceptions is that school going girls are also in high risk of early marriage.

Key Words: Perspective, Drop out, Early Marriage, Education


Page | 120

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(WCWS 2018) - womenstudies.co · (WCWS 2018) 03 – 05, May 2018 ... Dr. Snehalatha G. Nadiger, NMKRV College for Women, India Dr. Mangal Gouri V. Manvade, NMKRV College for Women,