Gender and Governance ― Studies from South Asia

Gender and Governance examines how different governance structures affect gender in five specific locations in South Asia: Swat in Pakistan, the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, the Northern Province in Sri Lanka, and Kashmir and Manipur in India. These comparative studies examine the historical context of each region, look at existing structures of governance, trace how these have changed over time, conclude whether or not parallel systems have come up in their place, and reflect on what this means for gender issues in the region.

Although each location is quite different, some common patterns emerge. This book sheds new light on how formal and informal structures affect the lives of women, particularly in conflict zones. When formal governance fails, women often turn to the informal structures in their community—and these can be both conservative and patriarchal. Gender and Governance shows why gendering structures of governance, therefore, is essential in ongoing efforts to improve gender equality in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Seema Kazi is senior fellow at the Centre for Women’s Development Studies, in New Delhi. She is the author of Between Democracy and Nation: Gender and Militarization in Kashmir.