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Great analysis of lots of contemporary feminist issues in Indian politics. Here's a quote that got me thinking:
At this point I would like to lead the discussion to a related paradox of our times—the emerging contradiction between the functioning of democracy and the ethical ambitions of feminist politics. In the debate over reservations for women [as well as other contemporary issues in Indian politics that she analyzes], the issue is of democratic functioning versus a greater value in our terms. In each case ‘we’ take the side of state regulation or regulation by authority over ‘freedom to choose.’ I suggest that the reason why we tend to turn to the law so insistently is precisely because democracy with its assumption of the rights-bearing citizen endowed with ‘free will,’ poses a problem for us until the values we hold to be crucial are hegemonic in society. Until then, the state and law are expected to override democracy and bring about social transformation from above. 208
At this point I would like to lead the discussion to a related paradox of our times—the emerging contradiction between the functioning of democracy and the ethical ambitions of feminist politics. In the debate over reservations for women [as well as other contemporary issues in Indian politics that she analyzes], the issue is of democratic functioning versus a greater value in our terms. In each case ‘we’ take the side of state regulation or regulation by authority over ‘freedom to choose.’ I suggest that the reason why we tend to turn to the law so insistently is precisely because democracy with its assumption of the rights-bearing citizen endowed with ‘free will,’ poses a problem for us until the values we hold to be crucial are hegemonic in society. Until then, the state and law are expected to override democracy and bring about social transformation from above. 208