This paper connects the topic of feminist identity with national conflicts and compares two regions in Asia with current nationalistic tendencies. The paper focuses on the regions of Kashmir in Northern India and Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. This seemed appropriate, as both regions share a range of commonalities concerning their specific (post-)colonial development. The paper will investigate common – but also diverging – aspects by focusing on the Hindu / Christian 'self' and the Muslim 'other', the forced annexation by the state and the major political changes from the 2000s.
As a second step, the author decided to focus on the role of Muslim women in the conflict situations in Kashmir and Mindanao. While exploring female agency in religio-political movements in India during the course, this essay wanted to find out about its counterpart in the Philippines. In this regard, the guiding questions were: What different forms of female agency can be found in Kashmir and Mindanao?
How can Muslim women articulate their activism within a male dominated society? What are the prerequisites in order to enable emancipatory female activism in a conflict area? And what influence do Modi’s and Duterte’s hyper-masculine politics have on female agency? These questions will be approached by analysing the ethnographic research conducted in Kashmir and Mindanao.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction: Why did I choose the topic?
2 Relevant aspects of colonialsm and post-colonialsm in Kashmir and Mindanao
2.1 The Hindu / Christian ‘self’ and the Muslim ‘other’
2.2 Forced annexation by the Indian and Philippine state
2.3 Major changes from the 2000s
3 The role of women in Kashmir and Mindanao
3.1 Demonstrations of Kashmiri women
3.2 Daughters of Faith
3.3 Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP)
3.4 NGO approach in Mindanao
4 Conlusion
5 Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay explores the intersection of feminist identity politics and nationalistic tendencies in Kashmir and Mindanao, specifically examining how Muslim women articulate agency within conflict-ridden, male-dominated societies and the contrasting roles that NGOs play in these regions.
- Comparative analysis of post-colonial development in Kashmir and Mindanao.
- The impact of hyper-masculine political leadership on female agency.
- Maternal politics and non-violent resistance strategies.
- The role of civil society and NGOs in peace-building and conflict management.
- Comparison between fundamentalist and rights-based women's activism.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Demonstrations of Kashmiri women
Women did not only support the politics by “mundane activities” (Parashar 2010, 437) such as cooking, cleaning or preaching paurush (masculinity) and matribhoomi bhakti (devotion to motherland) to their sons, they also found new ways to step out the private utilizing their role as dutiful mothers. Since the late 80s Kashmiri women could be seen in the forefront of the protests expressing their political solidarity with the movement for azaad (freedom) and shouting powerful slogans like: “Aye mard-e-mujahid jag zara, ab waqt-e-shahadat hai aaya!” (O brave warrior wake up, the time of martyrdom has come!) (Kurian 2020, 261)
Although Muslim women were supposed to stay at home, their appearance in public was sanctioned by the religious leaders, as they were performing their motherly duty to morally support the jihad. Zia reports from her ethnographic fieldwork that in some regions of Kashmir, these women’s actions were not only tolerated, but even explicitly recognized and supported by the religious authorities. A female informant explains that the Imam would call out via loudspeaker: “Tamaam Majjin Benin che appeal yewan karneh ki tem nyeran sadki peth dharna dineh.” (We appeal to all mothers and sisters to come into the street and stage a dharna [non-violent, sit-in protest].) (Zia 2019, 96) Parashar furthermore adds, that the initial demonstrations were supposed to emotionally support their men, but “women did not pick up arms.” (Parashar 2010, 438) However, this changed over the course of the conflict, when women showcased that they could influence politics not only through mobilizing the public, but also through the use of violence.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Why did I choose the topic?: Outlines the comparative framework for studying female agency in Kashmir and Mindanao within the context of nationalist tendencies and (post-)colonial history.
2 Relevant aspects of colonialsm and post-colonialsm in Kashmir and Mindanao: Examines historical processes of "othering," forced annexation, and the shift in political climates since the 2000s in both regions.
3 The role of women in Kashmir and Mindanao: Analyzes various forms of female activism, ranging from demonstrations to organized NGO-led initiatives and fundamentalist movements.
4 Conlusion: Synthesizes findings on how political strategies influence women's roles and the effectiveness of different forms of resistance in conflict zones.
5 Bibliography: Lists the academic sources used to support the research and arguments presented.
Keywords
Kashmir, Mindanao, Muslim women, female agency, post-colonialism, nationalism, conflict, NGO, peace-building, maternal politics, resistance, hyper-masculinity, identity politics, Daughters of Faith, APDP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the intersection of feminist identity politics and nationalistic trends in Kashmir and Mindanao, specifically focusing on how women participate in and influence conflict situations.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The key themes include the politics of religious "othering," the impact of state-enforced annexation, maternal agency, and the comparative role of NGOs in peace-building.
What is the central research question?
The research explores how Muslim women in Kashmir and Mindanao articulate their activism within patriarchal societies and how regional political contexts shape their ability to exercise agency.
Which methodology is utilized in this study?
The work utilizes a comparative analytical approach based on secondary ethnographic research, particularly drawing on studies by Parashar, Zia, Dwyer, and Cagoco-Guiam.
What topics are explored in the main body?
The main body investigates historical colonialism, the rise of fundamentalist women's groups like the Daughters of Faith, peaceful resistance through the APDP, and NGO strategies in the Mindanao peace process.
How would you characterize the primary keywords?
The keywords highlight the essential components of the study: regional conflict dynamics, gendered resistance, and the role of religious and political structures in shaping female participation.
How does the author define the "Daughters of Faith" organization?
They are classified as a fundamentalist group focused on moral policing and the implementation of shari’a law, operating under a strict interpretation of Islamic conduct.
What distinguishes the APDP's approach from other activist movements?
The APDP, led by Parveena Ahangar, utilizes non-violent, silent protest strategies and focuses on the needs of families of disappeared persons rather than endorsing radicalized or militant ideologies.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2021, Role of Women in National Conflicts. The Cases of Kashmir and Mindanao, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/985912
