Introduction

The University started this Women's Studies Centre in April 2005.The Centre was sanctioned UGC Grant in 2009 and in year 2012 the Centre was given continuation in the second phase of its scheme for Women's Studies Centres in University & Colleges we now have a full time Teaching & Non-teaching staff funded by the UGC. The Centre's main objective is to promote research and teaching in the new inter-disciplinary field of Women's Studies, and also to explore new areas of outreach into the community on women's issues.

The Centre was born out of a felt need for imparting gender sensitivity and Women's perspectives to students, researchers, fellow academics and policy makers through relevant education. The initial spectrum of activities of the Centre included research and documentation, teaching of specific courses in other interdisciplinary programs of the Institute; preparing of teaching materials and aids; consultancy on gender themes and organizing and conducting of training programs, seminars and conferences. In recent years, the Centre has built on this rich experience of early years to focus its activities towards evolving MA-Program in Women's Studies. The Centre has also been involved in networking and extension for national and international advocacy on Women's issues since its inception.

It has a rich history of women centered research and advocacy and has demonstrated expertise, developed over several years, of teaching women's themes across other existing programs. The presence of a well-developed library and documentation facility also complements our aspirations.

New Subject:The most important element in doing Women's Studies is to have a critical approach, to look at familiar and accepted facts, images theories with a new vision, to think about oneself and those around us in a new way. Many of our male students have said that this course gave them a fresh understanding of the world; because gender is everywhere, but we have been taught not to think about or even see it.

WHO CAN TAKE PART IN THE CENTRE'S ACTIVITIES:
Graduates in any discipline, and university students of postgraduate courses, are eligible for the courses offered. We hope that women and men working in the fields of Journalism, Social work, Psychology, Law etc will join.

Also any citizen, men or women, young or old, who feel that our world need not be seen through spectacles constructed and colored by a male-centered approach can, take part. Our courses use different source materials and audio visual records as well as a lecture format. Students are expected to take part in class discussions and to carry out field based surveys, etc. as a part of course work. Participation in these activities is as important as written examinations.

COURSES

• MASTER OF ARTS IN WOMEN'S STUDIES
• POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE COURSE IN WOMEN'S STUDIES (PART TIME)

MASS CHANCES FOR EMPLOYMENT

Certificate course in Women Studies helps to get opportunities of employment in various sectors like Education, Research, NGO's, press-media, government department's specially Women and Child Development, Department of Human Resource Development and to carry social responsibilities while living in society. If we completed M.A. in Women Studies it will help us to play a vital role in our business, job and services.

M.A.in Women's Studies and Certificate Course in Women's Studies gives you to take a part or become a part of fight for Social Reforms which has been started by Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule, Tarabai Shinde, Mukta Salve, Shahu Maharaja, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, and Periyyar. Male - Female equality is the need of time and this is a duty to carry that thought towards our new generation. M.A.in Women's Studies has been started in 2011-2012.Lectures of this course take place in the morning session at 8.00 A.M. to 12.00 P.M. Teaching methods of this course are very skillful, modern and technological.

About Centre

Women's Studies
Women's Studies is an academic discipline that developed out of the need for the feminist movement to understand the facts, causes and consequences of women's secondary status in society. Since the 1980's the discipline has grown in depth and coverage, and feminist thinkers have engaged in theoretical debate with scholars in the different social sciences and humanities.

Why the name of Tarabai ShindeTarabai Shinde wrote an essay called "Stree-PurushTulna" which was published in 1882. This is perhaps the earliest example of a feminist text in Marathi. She sharply critiques the male-centered values of society, and the hypocritical attitudes held towards women in marriage, religious practices and social views on morality. Her text was neglected, maybe because her views were too uncomfortable, until it was published in a new edition by S.G. Malshe. Since then the text has been widely discussed and was translated into English by Rosalind O'Hanlon.

We chose the name of Tarabai Shinde for our Centre to honor her work, to acknowledge its place in feminist writing in Maharashtra, and to pledge to bring to light other women who have much to contribute to our understanding of society, but who may not receive adequate attention.

Importance of this subject in Marathwada
The Marathwada region in particular is characterized as socially and economically backward, but it is especially so in the area of gender. We observe a high percentage of child marriage in the case of girls, low female literacy, relatively high birth rates and a prevalence of patriarchal attitudes towards women. It may be argued that all these have to be changed before the region can achieve better results in economics development and human development. For these reasons, a Women's Studies Centre can play an important role in the area of training, teaching and research which will be crucial for the development of the region.

Training
The Centre is widely sought after for conducting training programs on gender issues. It has been involved in gender-sensitization workshops for diverse clientele. It is also recognized as a Centre for conducting Refresher Courses for Academic staff under the UGC scheme for faculty development. It has conducted sponsored programs for capacity building of staff working in the NGO sector on gender as well as women administrators. All training programs of the Centre involve participatory and inclusive methodologies. It regularly conducts programs on feminist research methodologies and doing gendered research.

Networking and Partnership
The Centre for Women's Studies has been at the core of National and International networking. Faculty members at the Centre are regularly on the advisory boards of research studies at different Centers and Universities as well as on NGO committees. We are also involved in organizing regional and multi-centric seminars in partnership with academic and community based institutions.

Gender sensitization seminars, talks on specific themes for various kinds of groups such as students, general public, government officials, and community based groups and special interest groups have made for visibility of the Centre in academic and non-academic audiences.

Study worked to promote and strengthen cross-cultural teaching, research and extension in the area of Women's issues and gender studies. A range of such activities not only provide an opportunity for exchange of ideas and perspectives but also help in networking and building new alliances.

Activities / Events

Activities of the Center
We hold seminars and conferences on various issues related to women, gender and patriarchy. We invite renowned scholars and activists to speak and also call for papers from young scholars doing research in these areas. To date, these activities have had an enthusiastic response from participants in this region ad outside.

Since the Tarabai Shinde Women's Studies Centre started working in 2005, manuy eminent scholars and personalities have visited us like Pushpa Bhave, Uma Chakravarti, Maneesha Gupta, Medha Kotwal-Lele, Sumi Krishna, Gail Omvedt, Maya Pandit, Kumud Pawade, Razia Patel, Urmila Pawar, Vandana Shiva etc.

Women's Day celebrations on campus
Women's Day is one such event where students of the Women's Studies program along with the students of Women Centered Social Work have contributed to campus sensitivity on gender issues. Students have organized several programs like exhibition of posters and charts on the issues of gender, sex and sexuality, reading and sharing of the literary works of women writers or work written by students themselves, organizing silent protests and candle light marches to draw attention to the issue of violence against women. This was followed by the screening of documentaries which attracted a large audience and was widely appreciated.

Special Event of the Department
3rd Jan : Savitribai Phule Birth Annivarsary
8th March : International Women's Day
10th March : Savitribai Phule Punyatithi.
22-23rd August : University Foundation Day [Open Day]

Topics covered in our seminars, workshop & conference include:

• Sex Education In School, July 2007
• Gender Equality and Social Justice, August 2007
• Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, September 2007
• Sachar Committee Report on Socio-economic Condition of the Muslim Community in India, November2007
• Role of the Media in Promoting Gender Equality -December 2007
• Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samuday
• A Legal Aid, February 2008
• Gender Sensitive Practice of Law, January 2009
• The Role of Women's Studies in the System of Education in Marathwada Region, August 2011
• Law for Women, March 2012
• Gender & Masculinity, Jan 2014.
• Current Perspectives in Women's Studies:
• Women and Development.
• Social Problem of Women in Marathawada Region.
• Caste and Patriarchy.
• Women & Historiography
• Whether Women's Studies?

Visit by distinguished academician to the centre

Conferences
1. Caste and Patriarchy, January, 2008
2. Caste and Sociology, January 2011

Seminars
1. Violence Against Women, February 2009
2. Current Perspective in Women's Studies.
3. Issues Concerning Women in Marathwada Region and the Role of Women's Studies, January 2010
4. Feminism, Literature and a Cry for Translation, February 2010
5. The State and Women's Emancipation, July 2010
6. Wheather Women's Studies, Feb 2012
7. Women & Development
8. Social Problem of Women's in Marathwada Region.

Academic Year 2010-11
Organized a one day seminar on The State and Women's Emancipation to celebrate the birth anniversary of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj and completion of five years of the Centre- 26th July 2010
Organized a lecture by Dr. Shruti Tambe on " Shikshanachya Aarthapurnateche Badalte Nave Aayam" to mark the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule- 3rd January 2011
Organised a national level anti-caste conference on Caste and Sociology in collaboration with Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Research Centre of the University and the Krantisingh Nana Patil Academy - 28th and 29th January 2011.

Academic Year 2011-12
National level anti Caste Conference: Caste and Sociology 28th -29th January 2011.
Workshop: The Role of Women's Studies in the System of Education in Marathwada Region. Dt. 27 August 2011
"Shikshanachya Aarthapurnatehe Badalte nave Aayam"
Workshop: Law for Women Dt.13 March 2012
National Seminar on Women's Studies 24-25 Feb 2012

Academic Year 2012-13
Symposium: "Stiyanna laungik hinsepasun swarkshan denyasathi kaydeshir tartudi" Dt. 23-03-2013

Academic Year 2013-14
Organized lecture on "How & Why was India's Public education System destroyed Dt. 16th August 2013.

On the occasion of University Foundation Day was arranged Exhibition of Feminist Thought & feminist film poster. Some women have centralized film shown on occasion that day.Dt.22-23rd August 2013.

Faculty & Staff

• Dr. Pratibha Ahire
  Director
• Ms. Nirmala S. Jadhav
  Assistant Professor
• Dr. Savita B. Bahirat
  Research Assistant
• Mr. Lalit T. Bhaware
  Research Assistant
• Mr. Shamsunder V. Kantule
  Library Assistant
• Mr. Santosh S. Lokhande
  Jr. Asst/Data Entry Operator
   
• Mr. Vikas V. Tachle
  Attendant

Teaching Program

• ASSIGNMENTS CONTAINING INNOVATIVE SUBJECTS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS
• PRESENTATIONS.
• RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION.
• GUEST LECTURES
• PUBLICATION & PRODUCTION OF TEACHING MATERIAL
• FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION SESSIONS
• SEMINAR, CONFERENCE, WORKSHOP, SYMPOSIUM.
• DISSERTATION

Course Structure

1. M.A. (WOMEN'S STUDIES)

DURATION : TWO YEARS
ELIGIBILITY: Graduate in any discipline
INTAKE CAPACITY: 60
FACILITY: Central & Departmental Library, E-Resources, LCD, Computer, Earn & Learn Scheme, Hostels, Scholarship etc.
OPPORTUNITY: Degree course in Women's Studies can help us to get employment in Educational field, Research ,Journalism, press and media , Various NGO's (Non Government Organization) ,various Departments of Government Specially in the Department of Women and Child Development ,Multi National Companies , Department of Human Recourse Development . We can play a vital Role in wherever we are working by Feminist approach. It gives us chance to become a part of that Fight for Equality which is started by Late Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule, Fatima Shaikh, Tarabai Shinde, Mukta Salve, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Periyyar, and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar etc.

Subjects:

2. POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE COURSE IN WOMEN'S STUDIES (PART TIME)

DURATION : One Year (Part-Time)
ELIGIBILITY: Graduate in any discipline
INTAKE CAPACITY: 50
FACILITY: Departmental Library, E-Resources
OPPORTUNITY: Certificate course in Women's Studies can help us to get employment in Educational field, Research ,Journalism, press and media , Various NGO's (Non Government Organization) ,various Departments of Government Specially in the Department of Women and Child Development ,Multi National Companies , Department of Human Recourse Development . We can play a vital Role in wherever we are working by Feminist approach. It gives us chance to become a part of that Fight for Equality which is started by Late Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule, Fatima Shaikh, Tarabai Shinde, Mukta Salve, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Periyyar, and Dr. B.R.Ambedkar etc.

Subjects:

Field Attachment:

Field Attachment is an important component of the M. A. in Women's Studies program as it requires our students to get attached to organizations working on women's issues. The objective of the Field Attachment is to enrich students' theoretical and practical understandings of women's issues through firsthand experience. It provides an opportunity to students to learn by observing, participating and doing and it allows for contextualized and integrated learning based on direct interaction with ground realities. It also enhances and prepares skills of fieldwork, research, documentation, presentation and advocacy.

In the past 2 years, our students have been placed with different women's organizations, feminist organizations, collectives and people's movements in and around Mumbai. We acknowledge the following partnering organizations who have hosted students of Women's Studies for field attachment.

Contact Us

• Director,
  Tarabai Shinde Women's Study Center,
  Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,
  Aurangabad-431 004
  0240-2403331
  Email - director(dot)wsc(at)bamu(dot)net

Research