This course begins with some key questions: Can feminism be universal? How do the lived experiences of Indian women complicate or expand universal feminist narratives? What are some key contemporary debates on Indian feminism?

Through this course we’ll examine these open-ended questions through the theoretical framework of ‘Third World Feminism’ (TWF), a critical, intersectional, and anti-colonial approach to feminist theory that examines the construction of gender shaped by the legacies of colonialism as well as the intersecting forces of race, culture, tradition, and religion, social factors which are unique to most non-western states.

The first half of the course will examine core ideas, debates, concepts, and thinkers within Third World Feminism along with some references to the law. In the second half, we will cover contemporary legal issues including marriage and kinship, caste-based gender-discrimination, queer rights, and Muslim women’s rights. These contemporary issues will be examined considering historical and theoretical perspectives introduced in the earlier part of the term.

Pedagogical method: The module follows reflective thinking and encourages open-ended inquiry without imposing pre-determined value judgements. Students are encouraged to acknowledge power dynamics that shape the classroom and express their opinions respectfully backed by evidence and/or prior reading.