Pervasive Exclusion and the Challenge of Inclusion

The book provides an overview of exclusion and marginalization of women in Asia especially in the South and Central Asia and the challenges before the state, civil society and women for inclusive society in which women get equal opportunity and access to resources. Various articles in the book not only focus on exclusion and marginalization of women in public and private spheres but also emphasize on the need to have a comprehensive policy, strict implementation of policies and laws for protection of women’s rights and dignity and social networking for combating exclusion and inequality.

The scholarly articles in the book will stimulate the reader to think analytically and critically the role of the state in protecting women from discrimination and exploitation occurring due to internal and international pressures arising out of globalization, privatization and liberalization. The book will also provide the reader an insight to critically analyze to role of religion, caste and ethnicity which to a large extent deprives women of their sacred and civil rights.

Further, the structural and procedural aspects of exclusion and marginalization that leads to inequality and discrimination have been dealt by the scholars in a great detail in the book which will make the reader to rethink the whole issue of exclusion of women. As we know that the issue of exclusion has been viewed more in terms of economic deprivation or poverty, the book mainly looks exclusion of women in terms of their deprivation or their inaccessibility to various economic and social resources, rights and their relationship in the society at large.

The book also critically discusses about the policies, legal and Constitutional provisions or safeguards and special initiatives taken by the state and implementation of international conventions to protect the rights and dignity of women and to include them in development processes have not been able to combat the ever increasing gender exclusion and inequality.

So, the book will provide the reader a comprehensive understanding of the issue of women’s exclusion that they have been facing due to various internal and external forces and their struggle for equality and justice. 

This volume is an outcome of an international conference organised by Dr. K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia to discuss the issue of gender equity & exclusion and the mechanism of inclusion. The volume contains 27 papers, explaining various aspects and patterns of gender exclusion in South and Central Asia and future strategies of gender exclusion & equality for sustainable development.