Sacrificing Women: A Study of Ritualized Practices among Women Volunteers in India Export

@article{citeulike:3497848, abstract = {Abstract\ \ This study addresses issues related to inequality formation and reproduction, especially in regard to gender dynamics operating in a non-western society. Grounded in a post-colonial understanding of urban educated upper and middle class women NGO volunteers in contemporary India, it analyzes how they negotiate new approaches to challenge existing traditional gender roles, yet in critical ways contribute to their reproduction, particularly the traditional concept of ideal Indian womanhood. Employing structural ritualization theory we examine how ritualized symbolic practices related to the traditional concepts of caretaking, sacrifice, and the concept of natural sexual differences continue to be emphasized in a generation confronted with conflicting expectations about modern women's roles. Twenty-one testimonies provide the major source of evidence along with data gathered through participant observation. This research enhances our understanding of the power of rituals and how they can continue to shape the cognitions and activities of actors.}, author = {Mitra, Aditi and Knottnerus, J.}, citeulike-article-id = {3497848}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11266-008-9063-y}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/8v652265157086v7}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1007/s11266-008-9063-y}, journal = {Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations}, keywords = {civil\_society, volunteer, volunteering\_gender, volunteering\_india, volunteering\_women}, number = {3}, pages = {242--267}, posted-at = {2008-11-09 12:17:00}, priority = {2}, title = {Sacrificing Women: A Study of Ritualized Practices among Women Volunteers in India}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11266-008-9063-y}, volume = {19}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3497848 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3497848 N2 - Abstract  This study addresses issues related to inequality formation and reproduction, especially in regard to gender dynamics operating in a non-western society. Grounded in a post-colonial understanding of urban educated upper and middle class women NGO volunteers in contemporary India, it analyzes how they negotiate new approaches to challenge existing traditional gender roles, yet in critical ways contribute to their reproduction, particularly the traditional concept of ideal Indian womanhood. Employing structural ritualization theory we examine how ritualized symbolic practices related to the traditional concepts of caretaking, sacrifice, and the concept of natural sexual differences continue to be emphasized in a generation confronted with conflicting expectations about modern women’s roles. Twenty-one testimonies provide the major source of evidence along with data gathered through participant observation. This research enhances our understanding of the power of rituals and how they can continue to shape the cognitions and activities of actors. IS - 3 JF - Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations EP - 267 TI - Sacrificing Women: A Study of Ritualized Practices among Women Volunteers in India VL - 19 SP - 242 KW - civil_society KW - volunteer KW - volunteering_gender KW - volunteering_india KW - volunteering_women AU - Mitra, Aditi AU - Knottnerus, J PY - 2008//01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11266-008-9063-y ER -