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Rita Banerji

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Sex and Power: Defining History, Shaping Societies Paperback – April 15, 2009

by Rita Banerji (Author)

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BOOKS

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Global
Publication date

April 15, 2009
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

9780143064718
ISBN-13

978-0143064718
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Banerji's book is not only an extraordinary take on a subject that is still considered a taboo, but it also offers a new interpretation of Indian history. Lucidity of style and clarity of thought make this book eminently readable. -- The Telegraph

This book will place place Rita Banerji's feet firmly and solidly on the world stage. -- Worth Worth Magazine of Ideas and the Arts (U.S.A.)

She takes it on from every conceivable angle...makes excellent arguments on issues. --THE BUSINESSWORLD

A long-delayed, clear-eyed examination of what has been going on in India, and why. --INTERSECTIONS (AUSTRALIA)

She critiques what official versions tiptoe around. She is less than forgiving of Gandhi's views on sex, for example, which she exposes as confused and misguided. --TEHELKA (INDIA)

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0143064711
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Global (April 15, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780143064718
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143064718
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,303,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,292 in Psychology & Counseling Books on Sexuality
- #217,807 in Social Sciences (Books)

Customer Reviews:
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Rita Banerji

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Rita Banerji is a writer, photographer and feminist activist based in Calcutta, India. She grew up in 17 towns all over India, and was educated in the United States at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and The George Washington University in Washington D.C. She trained and worked as a conservation biologist before returning to India after 11 years to pursue her writing. She has written extensively for journals and magazines around the world and received the Apex Award of Excellence for Magazine and Journal Writing from the U.S. Her book 'Sex and Power' published by Penguin Books, India, described by The Telegraph as an "An extraordinary take on a subject still a taboo [and] a new interpretation of Indian history,” was longlisted for the Crossword-Vodaphone Non-Fiction Award and was No.1 on Crossword Bookstore's Best-sellers list. 'Undressing: Life in Hidden Poems' published in 2021, is a collection of poems from her personal diaries over twenty-five years, about her life experiences, her search for a home, identity and self amidst constant relocations, and lessons learnt about love, family and relationships . She is the founder and director of the award winning 50 Million Missing Campaign that's been working since 2006 to stop India's female genocide. Her website is www.ritabanerji.com. Follow her on twitter @rita_banerji

Customer reviews

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Gayle Kimball

Care about the global future? Read this book!

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2010

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Exactly what I want in a social science book: well-documented, well-written without cumbersome academic jargon, specific examples to illustrate interesting theoretical explanations. India is a BRIC nation, one of the rising economic superpowers, so we need to understand if it will move in a conservative patriarchal direction practiced by the 80 percent who live in villages or the dedication to equality of some of the educated elite who live in urban areas. The three catastrophic issues facing India in this century are population explosion, the AIDS epidemic and female genocide--all are sex related. India may overtake China as the most populous nation before 2030 and over half are under 22, childbearing age.
Scholar Rita Banerji analyzes this important question in terms of the horrifying treatment of women, which she proves fits the definition of genocide: abortion of girls, female infanticide, child brides, dowry murders, honor killings, and neglect of girls' health and education since they will join another family when they marry. She reviews the "yo-yo" history of religion in India from celebrating sexuality to abhorring it to find a precedent for picking equality and a healthy acknowledgement of human sexuality--Tantra was based on equality and balance between female and male, Shakti and Shiva. Her campaign to bring female genocide to public outcry is explained at [...], including a petition to sign. If you're interested in Indian religion, attitudes towards women and sexuality, and future, you'll learn a lot from reading Sex and Power, a very powerful and important book.Gayle Kimball, Ph.D.

5 people found this helpful

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Furiosa

One of the most important books/resources there is regarding gender ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2015

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One of the most important books/resources there is regarding gender, sexuality in relation to power in India. Meticulously written and researched, it gave me the historical context, the complex platform from which to begin understanding the gendercide which has been occurring. Thankyou Rita Banerji.

One person found this helpful

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Medusa

Amazing book that makes clear some behind the scene info ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2014

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Amazing book that makes clear some behind the scene info that other books don't even begin to deal with as the sex and power issues continue into modern times. Explains power struggles that religious dogma helps perpetuate in the subjugation of people.

One person found this helpful

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sarah kennedy

Rita is very well spoken and insightful, and has ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2016

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Rita is very well spoken and insightful, and has a clear passion for the history and shape of our world. There is much more here than meets the eye.

One person found this helpful

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FrizzText

First female philosopher from India

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2013

When I wrote about the female philosopher Hannah Arendt (her term: the banality of evil - actually a biographical movie starts in the US-cinemas) the readers of my blog flickrcomments on wordpress asked: "Why are there so few female philosophers in the world?" I replied: "Women might forgive too quickly. Henry David Thoreau once said, the most important thing is consistency and sincerity." And kindly Rita Banerji herself joined the dispute and commented: "I think it may be something like cooking and why most men are chefs. More women than men cook. But when a man wears a hat and calls it a profession, he's called a cook! I think women by nature tend to philosophize more about everything. Men go to war. Women talk peace. That is philosophy..." I have to add: Rita Banerji IS a female philosopher. Let her talk in the United Nations about her project, to change the disregard vs. women in India (and other countries)!

6 people found this helpful

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Trista Hendren

A Fascinating Read

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was extremely well-researched and well-written, with powerful implications for women today.

My husband kept looking over my shoulder as I read and can't wait to start reading it himself.

Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Neil Pharr

Sex and Power opens the eyes to plight of women

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2010

As a non-Indian guy for the USA, I am totally amazed at the depth and profound treatment this subject that can only be called the genocide of women in India. I feel like I live in 1938 and just got the bad news from Nazi Germany on the plight of the Jews. Women are more that a sect or a caste or a group to be exploited. Women deserve the same social equality as men! Women are as human as men. As a man living in a society historically dominanted by men - it feels like women are more human than my gender! I am modivated and inspired by Rita Banerji's brillant treatment of the subject of the exploitation of women. I love this book.
(Neil Pharr, Microbiologist, Atlanta, USA.)

7 people found this helpful

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Lars-Gunnar

Sex and Power: Defining History, Shaping Societies

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2010

Sex and Power: Defining History, Shaping Societies

A interesting and great written book.

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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer

She takes you through a history of societal views of sex in India along with associated topics like gender, poverty

Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2016

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Very well researched and interesting. She takes you through a history of societal views of sex in India along with associated topics like gender, poverty, and colonization.

Dilawar Khan

The quality of book was very bad. It seems that the books was lying in ...

Reviewed in India on January 19, 2015

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The quality of book was very bad. It seems that the books was lying in the storehouse for a year.... The first time when i saw the book.... it seemed as if I have been given a second hand book...

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