Alternative Sexualities in India Master of Arts Thesis
Alternative Sexualities in India Master of Arts Thesis Paulina S. Mposo s1498894 Asian Studies (Code: 60839) Supervisor: Prof. Dr. P.R. Kanungo Specialization: South Asian Studies, History, Arts, and Culture of Asia University of Leiden, Faculty of Humanities Leiden University, Leiden Final version, December 2017 1 Abstract Diversity of gender self-apprehensions and sexual attachments have been long under negotiation of medical, spiritual, and cultural writing, and is now understood as significant component of Indian political debate. There is not enough audacity in confronting assumptions on sexualities beyond binary. Although complex to address, sensitive questions upon behavior, belonging, and violence are of importance for those stigmatized on account of their sexuality. The literature, activism, and law, reflective of social bias, support norms and blur the picture of everyday lived reality. This paper gathers ambiguous, space, and time dependent perceptions of alternative sexualities in India, to open present day debate on queer mobilization in India entangled in colonial, global, and pre-modern influences. 2 Acknowledgements This thesis would not have the recent shape without the supervision of Prof. Dr. P.R. Kanungo to whom I send sincere gratitude for personal support, undertaking responsibility of providing useful suggestions about the paper. Special thanks are given to all lecturers of Asian Studies Department, who advanced my academic progress. 3 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 3 Table of Contents 4 Aberrations and Acronyms 8 Glossary 9 Chapter 1 Introduction 14 Chapter 2 Literature Review 16 Introduction 16 2.1. Literature Review 16 The Local, the Global and Language 17 Health Care Discourse 19 Stigmatized Femininity 20 Silence and the Law 21 Historical Recounts on Gender and Sexuality 23 Gender Identity and Sexual Behavior 24 Gaps Within the Current Research 25 Conclusion 25 Chapter 3 Attitudes Towards Alternative Sexualities 26 Introduction 26 3.1.
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