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Eve-Teasing and Education Mobility: Young Women’s Experiences in the Urban Slums of India

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Identities and Subjectivities

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 4))

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Abstract

This chapter explores the phenomenon of eve-teasing, and presents ongoing research detailing young Muslim people’s experiences of eve-teasing in the urban slums (bustees) of Kolkata (Calcutta), India. It begins with a review of some contemporary social and political changes occurring throughout India in regards to eve-teasing. Drawing on preliminary research, the chapter describes how eve-teasing is an important marker in young people’s transition into the youth period in the bustees. It details how eve-teasing has the potential to both curb and expand young women’s mobility with a focus on their mobility for schooling. Discourses about eve-teasing in the community are underpinned by concerns over young women’s safety and young women’s own understanding of space. There is also evidence that community acceptance of eve-teasing is contextual, pointing to use of eve-teasing as both a tool of community control over mobile girls and community tolerance of limited forms of premarital romance. This research adds to growing public discussions about gendered experiences of violence and mobility in India and argues dominant narratives of eve-teasing needs to be considered from a youth-centered perspective, particularly in communities where premarital mixed-sex interactions are not the norm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Studies Program, Department of Humanities, York University, 4700 Keele St, M3J 1P3, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kabita Chakraborty

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  1. Kabita Chakraborty
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Correspondence to Kabita Chakraborty .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Nancy Worth

  2. Department of Geography, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Claire Dwyer

  3. Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Tracey Skelton

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Chakraborty, K. (2015). Eve-Teasing and Education Mobility: Young Women’s Experiences in the Urban Slums of India. In: Worth, N., Dwyer, C., Skelton, T. (eds) Identities and Subjectivities. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 4. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-91-0_12-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-91-0_12-1

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