Women's Sexualities and Masculinities in a Globalizing Asia

Women's Sexualities and Masculinities in a Globalizing Asia examines women's same-sex sexualities and female masculinities, illustrating the complexities and histories of Asian lesbian identities. In a dramatic challenges to the notion of global gay culture, it reveals the way both butch/femme communities and lesbian activist groups are implicated in globalization processes. Where global queer studies focus primarily on urban, educated, and internet-savvy queer communities, this collection brings into view working-class lesbians and transgendered females whose voices are rarely heard. The chapters demonstrate that these communities participate in and respond to global feminist and queer movements as well as nationalist struggles, religious fundamentalist movements, and state gender regimes as they construct the forms of sexuality and gender evident in Asia today. Book jacket.

Evelyn Blackwood is Associate Professor in Anthropology and Women’s Studies, Purdue University. Saskia E. Wieringa is Senior Research Fellow, The University of Amsterdam, and Director of the International Women’s Center and Archives in Amsterdam. Abha Bhaiya is a founding member of Jagori, a feminist resource center based in Delhi.