Crossing boundaries:bras, lingerie and rape myths in postcolonial urban middle-class India

With the processes of modernization, urbanization and the entry of women in the formal labour market in Indian metropolitan spaces, this paper examines how the modern middle-class woman’s sartorial choices become enmeshed in popular rape myths (false beliefs) that serve to blame her for the wearing of western clothing. The paper articulates the ways in which middle-class women’s social realities are shaped by historical, colonial and nationalist ideologies of modernization, constructed and mediated through moral codes of dressing. By drawing upon original and contemporary empirical narratives from the urban spaces of Delhi and Mumbai, we emphasise how everyday sartorial choices, in relation to particularly the bra and lingerie, can reveal the nuanced ways in which Urban Indian Professional Women (UIPW) seek to understand, negotiate, and resist patriarchal power. Our findings shed light on conflicting and contradictory spatial experiences, where some women internalize and negotiate moral codes of dressing, out of fear, and others who transgress are subject to sanctions. Given the paucity of scholarly literature in this area, the paper makes an important theoretical and empirical contribution with its focus on postcoloniality and everyday discursive material spaces of gendered and sexualized dress practices. It argues for the consciousness raising of everyday urban geographies of dress that reveal complicated structures of power that are often deemed hidden

Gender studies approaches to the relationships between religion and development

The first part of this literature review introduces the main concepts and theoretical frameworks underpinning a gender-based approach to development. Mainstream work in the area of 'gender and development' is primarily concerned with issues such as the social differences between men and women, the economic marginalisation of women, or violence against women as a product of gender bias. However, studies in this field have not, on the whole, taken the impact of religious values, beliefs and organisations upon gender relations seriously. 'Gender and development' discourse is typically both materialist and secularist. Religion is often cited as an impediment to women's access to employment, healthcare or education, but the dynamics of this interaction are less often the research focus. It is argued that in the mainstream development literature there is a failure to engage with the ways in which some feminists across the globe seek to transform their traditions as a source of empowerment, as well as a lack of interest in the ways in which religion can inform alternative, sometimes more culturally appropriate, understandings of development. The second part of this review discusses research that is concerned with the impact of religion upon the types of concerns that form the content of gender-development debates

Buddhism and development: a background paper

The aim of this study is to provide a background paper that is concerned with the intersection between Buddhism and international development. Firstly, it provides a brief overview of Buddhist teachings, beliefs and practices; secondly, it will discuss the relationship between Buddhist values and key development concerns; and, finally, it will provide a more focussed investigation into some areas of development and the way that Buddhists might approach them (i.e. ecology;economics, poverty, debt and borrowing; gender; and peacebuilding)

Sociology, religion and development: literature review

The aim of the following literature review is to discuss key theoretical debates within the sociology of religion regarding definitions of religion, the role of religion in society and the future of religion. These issues have occupied sociologists of religion since the nineteenth century and are also relevant to our current task of examining the relationship between religion and development. Also considered is the extent to which the debates that have emerged reflect a western context or if they provide theoretical models that are useful to understanding religion and its transformations globally. A second aim will be to discuss research within sociology that is relevant to the theme of religion and development. As there is considerable overlap here with other disciplines this review will focus upon several areas that have not been covered in other reviews - namely the issue of 'religions/spiritual capital and social capital' and, also, with 'civil society and social movements'

Hinduism and international development: religions and development background paper

This background paper is concerned with the intersection between Hinduism and international development. It provides an overview of existing studies, discusses the views of some of the main academic interpreters who have drawn attention to links between Hinduism and issues relevant to development, and refers to relevant religious organizations.The paper is divided into three main sections. The first section aims to clarify what is meant by the 'Hindu Tradition'. In the second section, the relationship between Hinduism and some concepts and debates relevant to development (social ethics, including human rights and inequality; political systems; and attitudes towards economics, including notions of wellbeing, poverty and wealth) are explored. The final section contains a more focussed investigation into some important contemporary development issues and the ways that Hindus might approach them

Religious studies and development: a literature review

This literature review will begin with a section on method and theory in religious studies. Although the Religions and Development research programme is concerned with the intersection between religion and development, it has not been conceived as a 'religious studies' project per-se. However, the debates around method and theory that have occurred within the discipline do offer useful insights into the issues that arise when deciding how to study people's religious beliefs and practices. While religious studies scholars employ many of the same methodological and analytical tools as scholars in other disciplines, an important focus within method and theory discussions has been the viability of religious studies as a separate discipline. The contours of this discussion are of interest to this programme because they address the key issue of what it is to study 'religion' as a non-believer or outsider. The first part of this paper therefore provides a discussion of the broader theoretical and epistemological concerns of research religion, and the consequences for various interdisciplinary approaches. In the second part of the paper, we turn to look at some of the ways in which religious studies scholars have investigated the influence of religious values and organisations upon social, economic and political change in developing countries. In addition, the main focus of this review will be on regions of specific interest to the RaD programme, namely sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Buddhist Feminist Transnational Networks, Female Ordination and Women's Empowerment

Consideration of the role that religion plays in women's lives in developing contexts can be important in understanding ways of approaching their “strategic gender needs”. Rather than rejecting religion for its inherent patriarchy, styles of “religious feminism” have emerged across the globe. These argue for reinterpretations of religious systems that are consistent with the “core” values of the tradition as well as various types of feminist thinking. The aim of this paper is to discuss the emergence of a transnational movement across Buddhist traditions and countries that is concerned to make full ordination an available option to women in contexts where it is currently prohibited. While becoming fully ordained is considered to be the most suitable way of becoming enlightened and escaping future rebirths, a strong theme within the movement is the argument that gender hierarchies within Buddhism have a broader cultural impact upon social attitudes that disempower women and limit their development. Dialogue between members of Buddhist communities across the world has encouraged reflection upon and a challenge to unequal and oppressive gender hierarchies within the Buddhist tradition and within Buddhist societies. This paper explores four “international” events/examples that enable information exchange as well as the flow of material support between women from different traditions.