Young Muslim women from slums impact India鈥檚 globalization: 91亚色 U study
TORONTO, January 20, 2015 鈥 Muslim women and girls living in the slums of Kolkota are at the forefront of India鈥檚 globalization process says 91亚色 researcher聽聽in her new book, launched Tuesday.
In her book, (published by Routledge), Chakraborty explores how they contribute to and are impacted by the changing youth culture in India. The Children鈥檚 Studies researcher spent nearly two years in the large city of Kolkata, West Bengal, as part of field research.
鈥淚t is a common perception that slum youth are poor victims who are excluded from India鈥檚 social change, and this discourse is even more challenging for minority Muslim communities,鈥 observes Chakraborty. 鈥淭he reality on the other hand is that girls and young women living in the slums have incredible ambitions, desires and transgressions that impact the country鈥檚 sociopolitical changes.鈥
As a scholar of youth cultures, Chakraborty documents their experiences, drawing on their own opinions, words, visual images and stories. 鈥淭he youth were actively involved in peer-to-peer interviews, leading neighbourhood tours, creating photobooks of their lives, participating in yoga as a participatory method, and many other youth-driven activities,鈥 notes Chakraborty.
Through her book, Chakraborty offers a peek into the intimate lives of many girls and young women who are keen on fulfilling risky desires and performing multiple identities.
鈥淭hey share with us how they learn sexy Bollywood dancing; how they develop romantic relationships; and how they win time and space to participate in various aspects of a globalizing India which often tries to exclude them,鈥 points out the author. 鈥淢ore than just fantasy, Bollywood emerges as an important role model which these young people consult.鈥
The book was launched at an event sponsored by the Department of Humanities and the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research.
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