Articles by Veena Poonacha

This paper examines the educational and science policies of India to understand some of the reasons for women's exclusion. Examining women?s access to higher education, it discusses the impact of current socio-economic and political realities on women's participation in science education and research. Not only is there a disjuncture between professed policy statements and prevailing ground realities, certain assumptions about class, caste or gender operate here unquestioned. The resultant anomalies have created a major gap in women's access to education and they are likely to increase, which has implications not only for gender equity, but also for the future of theoretical research in the country.

Feminist scholarship has acquired a degree of acceptance in academia. Increasingly influenced by post-modern thought, women's studies scholarship has questioned previously held definitions of power/powerlessness, sexuality and fixed gender identities. The challenge to 'grand' theories has generated a rich understanding of the heterogeneity of human experiences. Nonetheless the fear is whether this legitimate critiquing of the shortfalls of the theories of the 1970s has undermined the political vision of feminism's original project.

Minimally construed as the physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse of a woman in her intimate relationship, domestic violence in the Indian context includes intimidating acts by the members (both men and women) of her marital family. Often condoned by culture, such systemic violence enforces gender inequality by curtailing a woman's freedom and right to self-determination. How do government and non-government organisations respond to complaints of domestic violence by women victims or their families, or even outsiders? What problems do the agencies face in constructing a response?

Review of Two Decades of Women's Movement and Women's Studies Veena Poonacha The specificities cf women's experience might vary, the meaning they impute to their experiences may also be different and the choices they make disparate. But as long as these choices remain foreclosed by their socio-cultural situation, there arises within the social milieu certain common strands which inform the lives of women. It is from this that feminist political positions arise.