Department of Women’s Studies

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/4244

The learners will demonstrate a mastery of the subject by detailed engagement with evolution, development, and current practices in the field of Women's Studies and learn how to effectively conduct research in the field. The guest teachers on the teaching panel have international publications and visits to their credit. Some of them are engaged in collaborative work with the university and in projects in universities abroad. The Department looks forward to producing a regular output of brilliant students and researchers.

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    Understanding the Status of Matua Women in 20th and 21st Centuries in Bengal
    (University of North Bengal, 2024-12) Goldar, Sanchayeeta
    The Matua community primarily comprised of lower caste individuals from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) were united under the leadership of Sri Sri Hari Chand Thakur as part of an anti-caste religious movement. His son Guru Chand Thakur, later strengthened this movement, focusing on truth, purity of character, and gender equality. He emphasized on education, self-reliance, and societal respect for the community, who historically suffered from caste-based untouchability and forced migration due to communal conflicts. This present paper will analyse the contemporary socio-cultural and economic conditions of Matua women in Bengal. It highlights the significant role of ‘Matri Sena’, an independent women’s organization within the Matua fold, which underscores the commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Despite progress in education and reduced discrimination, Matua women still face economic challenges and societal stereotypes. This study explores their ongoing struggles and efforts to improve their status, reflecting on the broader implications for social justice and gender equality within marginalized communities.
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    Ignored Voices: An Overview of the life of the Women with Disabilities in India.
    (University of North Bengal, 2022-12) Das, Tinku
    It has been held from ancient times that men and women are not equal. Some socially prescribed identities have been forced onto both genders. Based on people's biological or physiological differences, performances, competence, retention, and other capacities, society has developed some negative conceptions and established some binaries such as normal/abnormal, able/disabled, fit/unfit, etc. In order to oppress women, patriarchal society has created separate standards for men and women. It views women as weak human beings who serve as spouses, mothers, nurses, and sisters. In a culture that is governed by men, women lack freedom and safety. Men have always held a higher standing than women and are still are viewed as more significant than women. There have been different waves of feminism with their own charter of demands regarding women’s rights but there was no particular demand for women with disabilities. It seems that women with disabilities have no purpose in this world and are considered as useless in the society. Even at the very onset the women who struggled for their rights and identities did not raise their voices for women with disabilities. Harlan Hahn, a disability activist and political scientist has observed that disabled women often encounter “asexual objectification”. Though the world of words masculine and feminine are categorized but women with disability have no category and have been deprived and treated as untouchables. The paper discusses this lack of voice in favour of women with disabilities that pushes them towards more uneasy world.