Capturing The Gendered Realities in India

The edited volume ‘Capturing the Gendered Realities in India’ presents a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of gender issues across diverse regions and contexts in India. The book comprises 16 chapters that delve into varied themes such as health, education, politics, sexuality, and cultural practices, offering nuanced insights into how gender operates within specific socio- cultural and institutional frameworks.

The book begins with an introduction to regional gender histories, emphasizing how local experiences and traditions shape broader gender narratives. Subsequent chapters explore topics such as ritual fasting and motherhood, social perceptions around fertility decline, and grassroots political participation by women. These discussions highlight the complex interplay between tradition, demography, and gender roles. Several chapters focus on institutional and policy- driven dimensions, such as the gendered implications of healthcare schemes, the integration of gender perspectives in the National Education Policy 2020, and the representation of women in formal power structures. These analyses underscore how state interventions often reinforce or challenge existing gender hierarchies. The book also addresses marginalized identities, including transgender persons and individuals with non-normative sexual identities, drawing attention to their legal struggles, social stigma, and digital exclusion. Regional diversity is a key strength of the volume, with studies drawn from states like Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Punjab, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu. The inclusion of lesser-discussed issues such as gender roles among women police, and masculine domination in irrigation institutions, further enriches the discourse.

Overall, this book offers a grounded and expansive portrayal of gendered experiences in India, blending academic rigor with real-world relevance. It serves as a valuable resource for those interested in gender studies, sociology, public policy, and regional development, providing both critical analysis and empirical depth.

Dr. Rajni Bala is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at Baring Union Christian College in Batala, Punjab. With 27 years of teaching experience, she holds Master’s degrees in Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Library and Information Science and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Panjab University, Chandigarh. She is UGC/NET qualified in two subjects. Dr. Bala has published six books and twenty-two articles, and she has presented ninety papers at national and international conferences and seminars. She is a Life Member of the International Sociological Association (ISA), the Indian Sociological Society (ISS), the Indian Association of Women’s Studies (IAWS), and the North-West Indian Sociological Society. Additionally, she serves as the Convener of the Research Committee on Gender Studies (RC-10) of the Indian Sociological Society, New Delhi. Her areas of specialization are Gender Studies and Youth in Higher Education.

Dr. Mayanglambam Lilee is currently teaching as an Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Sociology and Director, Women’s Studies Cenytre at Manipur University (A Central University): Canchipur in Imphal, Manipur. Previously, she worked as an Assistant Professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusion Policy (CSSEIP) at the same University since 2010. She has completed a research project sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi. She has over a dozen research papers published in reputed national and international journals, including UGC-CARE listed, Peer-Reviewed and Scopus. She is the author of the edited books ‘Gender, Women and Society: Discourse and Praxis in North-East India’ and ‘Dimensions of Women’s Empowerment, Vol. I & II’ and Adjustment Amidst Multicultural Environment (single authored). She is also a Life Member of the Indian Sociological Society (ISS) and served as an Executive Member of RC – 10: GENDER STUDIES, ISS, New Delhi, India.