Social Reform, Sexuality and the State

Book excerpt: A substantial contribution to the debate on the role of gender studies in the context of the development of Indian society is offered in this volume. The contributors highlight the problematic nature of the dual role the state is expected to play: on one hand it is vested with the responsibility for social reform; on the other it is seen as representing and furthering the interests of social groups based on race, class, caste or sex. This duality of the state is particularly evident in questions relating to gender, and male and female sexuality.