Women\'s Studies in India : A Review

Contents: Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Gender equity in India: issues of freedom and equality. 2. Evolution of women\'s studies in the Indian Academia. 3. Research in women\'s studies in India. 4. Work of the women\'s studies centres in the Northern States of India. 5. Recent policy initiatives by the government influenced by women\'s studies scholarship: i. The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and prevention of misuse) Amendment Act, 2002. ii. The Protection of Women and Domestic Violence Act, 2005, No. 43 of 2005. iii. The National Commission for Women Act, 1990, No. 20 of 1990. iv. The Constitution (Seventy-Third Amendment) Act, 1992.

"The year 2001 was observed as women empowerment year. Following this, in India the National Policy for the empowerment of women was put forth in 2001. It recognized that the underlying causes of gender inequality are related to social and economic structures, based on informal norms and practices which are restrictive of women\'s freedom and equality.

The University Grants Commission at present supports 65 Women\'s Studies Centres in the universities. Over the years some other universities and colleges have also started women\'s studies centres and programmes as their own independent initiative. Some other Non-Government Organisations also have research, documentation, curriculum development programmes in women\'s studies. The first seven women\'s studies centres were established by the UGC in the University System in 1987. This work aims to examine the activities and progress of some centres and assess how far they have been able to influence the university system and policy planning." (jacket)