Changing the Subject: Feminist and Queer Politics in Neoliberal India

Srila Roy's book "Changing the Subject" explores how global neoliberalism affects gender and sexual politics in India, highlighting the co-optation and depoliticization of women's rights struggles and the emergence of queer activism. Through an ethnography of two West Bengal organizations, Roy reveals the specificity of activist and NGO work on gender and sexuality and how historical and local feminist currents shape contemporary queer and nonqueer neoliberal feminisms.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 21 October 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her groundbreaking book, "Changing the Subject: Gender and Sexual Politics in India under Global Neoliberalism," Srila Roy delves into the intricate landscape of gender and sexual politics in India, exploring the profound effects of global neoliberalism on this rapidly evolving society. The consequences of India's liberalization were paradoxical, as the influx of global funds for social development and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) simultaneously signaled the co-optation and depoliticization of struggles for women's rights. At the same time, these funds amplified the visibility and vitalization of queer activism, creating a complex tapestry of social change.

Through a decade-long ethnography of two West Bengal organizations, one focused on lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues and the other on rural women's empowerment, Roy meticulously uncovers the specificity of activist and NGO work in these domains. By tracing changes in feminist governmentality that were intricately intertwined with transnational neoliberalism, Roy reveals how historical and highly local feminist currents shaped contemporary queer and nonqueer neoliberal feminisms.

One of the key insights of the book is the interplay between historic techniques of activist governance and queer feminist governmentality's focus on changing the self. Roy argues that this approach offers a fresh perspective on feminism, recognizing it as both already co-opted by dominant ideologies and as a transformative force capable of shaping the world. By exploring the intersections of gender, sexuality, and neoliberalism, "Changing the Subject" provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the future of feminism and social justice in India and beyond.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 238 x 159 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016243