The department-cum-centre for women’s studies of Panjab
University will organise a seminar on “Women and Culture: Embodied Realities and
Social Constructions” on January 21 at the ICSSR Complex on the University campus.
Dr Manvinder Kaur and Dr Rajesh Gill, coordinator and chairperson, respectively, of
the department said the objectives of the seminar include analysis of how women are
represented and constructed in the socio-cultural traditions of the region, and how
culture functioning through religion, language, social and folk traditions perpetuates
the subordination of women.  The seminar would specifically focus on women’s major
issues emerging as a consequence of patriarchal culture, such as female foeticide, son
preference, honour killings, domestic violence as well as denial of various rights to
them.  Besides, the experts will also examine socio-cultural concept of honour in
relation to women as it has emerged in North-West India.  The seminar will suggest
measures to overcome the legitimization of women’s subordination through the cultural
idiom.