Women’s lives in India have evolved significantly in the past few decades, particularly in the realms of health, education, economic security, and social standing – including media representation. The change is perceptible not only materially but also perceptually. Yet, at the cusp of India’s eightieth year of Independence, the stories, or lack thereof, about the lives of women in the country don’t cease to astound.
Women in India: Exploring Work, Life, and Freedom critically traces the trajectory of these changes while also revealing the persistent blind spots and prejudices within systems that continue to scaffold their subordination and marginalisation. The book interrogates the extent to which these developments have improved lives of women in different parts of the country and questions whether persistent barriers like gender discrimination, underrepresentation, and unequal work prospects still prevent women from exercising their autonomy and agency in a modern and ever evolving society. Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives, encompassing disciplines such as sociology, public health, economics, law, media, management, literature, and cultural studies, the book underscores the role of women as powerful agents of change despite the sociocultural barriers that continue to hinder their progress. Lives and life-stories of ordinary women form the crux of the chapters authored by an eclectic mix of young Indian scholars from diverse geographical locations.
This book will provide essential reading to students and researchers working in the areas of gender studies, cultural studies, sociology, economics, media, management, literature, social movements, and South Asian studies. Policymakers and general readers interested in women’s issues and well-being will also find the book to be of immense value.
Edited by:
Seemita Mohanty (National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela),
Jalandhar Pradhan (National Institute of Technology (NIT),
Rourkela,
India),
Ipsita Roy (National Institute of Technology (NIT),
Rourkela),
Debanjali Dutta (National Institute of Technology (NIT),
Rourkela)
Imprint: Routledge India
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 470g
ISBN: 9781041125815
ISBN 10: 104112581X
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of figures, List of tables, List of contributors. Acknowledgements. Introduction Part I: Literature and culture 1. Crafting écriture féminine: history, womanhood, and “taboo” in Bengali women’s poetry 2. Women folk songs as a history of female resistance: a feminist reading of Bhojpuri folk songs and Malabar’s Kathu Pattu 3. Engendering Chhau dance of Purulia: deconstructing the binary 4. The dichotomy of conservatism and freedom: analysing Amulya Malladi’s The Mango Season 5. ‘Femvertising’: a critical analysis of the evolution of Indian sanitary napkin advertisements over time Part II: Body, health, and violence 6. Contesting maternity: reading Zehra Naqvi’s The Reluctant Mother: A Story No One Wants to Tell 7. Broken reproductive health of women sugarcane cutters in Maharashtra, India 8. A gendered analysis of waist-to-hip ratio and its association with diabetes and hypertension in India 9. Tracing a way forward: analysing the lives of female acid-attack survivors in India 10. Beyond violence and victimhood: examining Anuradha Roy’s Sleeping on Jupiter Part III: Social movements, employment, and livelihood 11. The visible invisibility of Dalit Christian women in the anti-caste movements of Kerala 12. Gendered division of labour and the environmental burden: a critical analysis of Kiran Nagarkar’s Jasoda 13. Stepping into forbidden avenues: a study of biopics on Indian sportswomen 14. Higher education and women’s participation in technology-based industries in India: a regional outlook 15. Trials within and beyond courtrooms: a study of gender politics and legal parlance in select Malayalam courtroom films 16. Impact of organisational gender culture on occupational well-being: has the glass ceiling shattered? Index.
Seemita Mohanty is Professor of English in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, India. Jalandhar Pradhan is Professor of Economics in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, India. Ipsita Roy is Assistant Professor of Economics in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, India. Debanjali Dutta is a research scholar in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, India.
Reviews for Women in India: Exploring Work, Life, and Freedom
‘The place of women in Indian society has always been at par with their male counterparts in all walks of life. History is replete with numerous examples of women with laudable accomplishments in their respective fields since ages. However, the multiple vulnerabilities that women face today are of a very serious concern and are a stark reminder that no society can move forward without exploring, and utilising women’s energy who constitute almost half of the human population. Written by young scholars with their very illustrative and learning experiences, this book is of immense value to both researchers and policymakers alike, besides discerning readers interested in women’s cause and their well-being.’ —Bani Chatterjee, Former Professor of Economics, IIT Kharagpur ‘Despite significant advancements, women continue to encounter systemic inequalities and struggle for respect and agency even in the twenty-first century. This book is a reminder of the constant sense of precarity and vulnerability that Indian women experience irrespective of their social conditions. The wide range of topics presented here will be of immense help to researchers, students, and the general reader alike to obtain a nuanced understanding of the social, cultural, and economic forces that continue to shape women’s lives in India today.’ —Sanghamitra Pati, Additional DG & Director (Additional Charge) ICMR-National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science, New Delhi ‘The place of women in Indian society has always been at par with their male counterparts in all walks of life. History is replete with numerous examples of women with laudable accomplishments in their respective fields since ages. However, the multiple vulnerabilities that women face today are of a very serious concern and are a stark reminder that no society can move forward without exploring, and utilising women’s energy who constitute almost half of the human population. Written by young scholars with their very illustrative and learning experiences, this book is of immense value to both researchers and policymakers alike, besides discerning readers interested in women’s cause and their well-being.’ —Bani Chatterjee, Former Professor of Economics, IIT Kharagpur ‘Despite significant advancements, women continue to encounter systemic inequalities and struggle for respect and agency even in the twenty-first century. This book is a reminder of the constant sense of precarity and vulnerability that Indian women experience irrespective of their social conditions. The wide range of topics presented here will be of immense help to researchers, students, and the general reader alike to obtain a nuanced understanding of the social, cultural, and economic forces that continue to shape women’s lives in India today.’ —Sanghamitra Pati, Additional DG & Director (Additional Charge) ICMR-National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science, New Delhi
