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Engendering Political Labour: Findings from a Kerala Village

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  • Anamika Ajay

Abstract

Literature on Indian politics has largely under-examined the role of the family in shaping party politics with the exception of the studies on dynasticism. There is a paucity of research that looks at the complex ways in which intimate lives and party politics are intertwined. This article contributes to the existing feminist analyses of Indian party politics by conceptualizing politics and political labour in a way that does not exclude the role of the family. It presents the case study of a village in northern Kerala, which has been witnessing heightened political conflicts to show how personal experiences and family disputes get politicized. As domestic and political spheres bleed into each other, political parties become hugely dependent on feminine ideals and women’s everyday labour, affects and sociality to survive electoral competitions. Yet, the patriarchal family and masculinized local party leadership use gender ideologies to celebrate hypermasculine political participation, undervalue women’s labour and limit their political aspirations.

Suggested Citation

  • Anamika Ajay, 2021. "Engendering Political Labour: Findings from a Kerala Village," Studies in Indian Politics, , vol. 9(1), pages 37-50, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indpol:v:9:y:2021:i:1:p:37-50
    DOI: 10.1177/2321023021999142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonalde Desai & Gheda Temsah, 2014. "Muslim and Hindu Women’s Public and Private Behaviors: Gender, Family, and Communalized Politics in India," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(6), pages 2307-2332, December.
    2. Sylvia Chant, 2008. "The 'Feminisation of Poverty' and the 'Feminisation' of Anti-Poverty Programmes: Room for Revision?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 165-197.
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