Political Economy of Gender

This book examines ways in which political ideologies, legal frameworks, religious customs, and cultural institutions are employed by gendered power hierarchies to shape the daily lives of women and other marginalised groups in the Global South. It draws attention to the profoundly established, frequently unseen patriarchal structures that interact with caste, class, race, and religion. The book addresses the fundamental question: How do the political, religious, cultural, and legal systems of power interact to uphold or challenge gender inequality in the Global South? Drawing from critical political theory, cultural studies, and postcolonial feminism, the book is firmly rooted in the intersectionality theoretical framework. It explores the ways in which gendered power marginalises women and gender minorities while also facilitating acts of agency and resistance across a variety of geographical areas, most notably South Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The book is divided into four parts: Gendered Power and Political Participation; Cultural and Institutional Patriarchy; Resistance, Right-Wing Populism, and Gendered Narratives; and, Voice, Violence, and Visibility. Examples of case studies include the role of women in right-wing populist governments, the way gender is reinterpreted in Bhutanese and Dalit literature, the Loya Jirga and other traditional governing systems, and feminist interventions in law and diplomacy. The book argues that comprehending and altering gendered systems requires an intricate, intersectional lens. Scholars, students, and practitioners operating at the nexus of gender, politics, and postcolonial studies will benefit from this transdisciplinary resource.