CONN 210 | Law, Gender and Justice in South Asia

In this course students will read selections from three ethnographies across different regions of South Asia to examine the relationship between law, gender and justice. These ethnographies will address 1) specific laws and the mark they leave on intimate and familial-life 2) trace how social movements, and struggles for justice in South Asia and its diasporas bring people together in dialogue with, and in resistance to law 3) how such resistance and activism is gendered 4) the informal negotiations and alternate approaches to conflict resolution adopted in contexts where legal institutions are hostile or inaccessible.
These ethnographies will be read alongside key dialogues in south Asian and transnational feminism. The course engages perspectives from anthropology, feminist and legal studies.