A Study Circle on Colonial Shaping of Gender Norms in the Subcontinent

December 2, 2019: The IBA students engaged in a conversation with historian and Assistant Professor Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, Dr. Newal Osman in a study circle, organized by Ardeshir Cowasjee Writing Centre. This study circle was titled as Colonial Shaping of Gender Norms in the Subcontinent and the focus of the discussion was on the ways in which British Raj and the project of colonialism reshaped gender norms in the Subcontinent.

The conversation was initiated by Dr. Osman, where she delineated the structure of the legal system which was set up by the Raj and the various ways in which this system criminalized the existence of gender minorities. She spoke about the highly patriarchal nature of this legal system whose basis, she said, was the passing down of inheritance and property to a person's offspring. Thus, all gender identities that could not reproduce children were outlawed. The students present at the discussion also took an active part by asking insightful questions and pondering over the link between the British legislations and contemporary conceptions of gender.