Fall 2007

ANS 384 • Gender and the Body in South Asian Texts and Practice

Course Description

This graduate-level seminar will introduce students to the world of gender studies within multiple disciplinary contexts of South Asian studies. Over the course of the semester, we will read the works of philologists, historians of religion, cultural historians, folklorists, and anthropologists - primarily works that have become "classics" in the areas of Indology and South Asian studieS to gain a sense of how gender has been used as a category of analysis in different scholarly scenarios.

Grading Policy

1 topics paper (8 to 10 pages in length) plus presentation 20% 2 reaction papers (2 to 3 pages in length) plus presentation 30% total (15% each) Formal oral presentation on research paper in progress 20% Final research paper (20 to 30 pages in length) 30%

Texts

Jamison, Stephanie. Sacrificed Wife/Sacrificer's Wife: Women, Ritual, and Hospitality in Ancient India. O'Flaherty, Wendy Doniger. Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts. Alter, Joseph S. The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. Harlan, Lindsey. The Goddesses' Henchmen: Gender in Indian Hero Worship. Thapar, Romila. êakuntalŒ: Texts, Readings, Histories. VatsyŒyana. The KŒmasètra. Doniger and Kakar translation. Ali, Daud S. Courtly Culture and Political Life in Early Medieval India. Gold, Ann Grodzins and Gloria G. Raheja. Listen to the Heron's Words. Jaini, Padmanabh. Gender and Salvation. Reddy, Gayatri. With Respect to Sex: Negotiating Hijra Identity in South India. Course packet (available at Paradigm).

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