Overview
The volume is a journey of discovery into the infamous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar), of Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances had ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has given birth for centuries to many well-known performing artists. This text paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon, however, through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers and and their customers. These people are struggling to make a living by following ancient traditions, yet not knowing clearly where they fit in the larger picture of present day society. The book helps eradicate a blind spot in our understanding of the power relations associated with gender roles in our society.
Full Product Details
Author: Fouzia Saeed
Publisher: OUP Pakistan
Imprint: OUP Pakistan
Dimensions:
Width: 13.80cm
, Height: 2.70cm
, Length: 21.60cm
Weight: 0.664kg
ISBN: 9780195794120
ISBN 10: 0195794125
Pages: 355
Publication Date: 01 April 2002
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
...a zealous study by a feminist committed to understanding and overturning male prejudices, government prescriptions, social and moral contradictions, and sexual discrimination. Social Anthropology overturning ... the decision to do anthropological research in this fascinating urban setting was an excellent one. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute ... offer(s) valuable insights into the social processes shaping lower middle class and working class women's working lives ... vividly illustrates the value and difficulties of sensitive ethnography, and goes beyond what you might expect from a good journalistic account in its reflections on prostitution historically and cross-culturally. IJPS Taboo! presents a personalized ethnography that is not just deeply compassionate but actively supportive of the sex worker/performer's right to her profession ... Throughout the book Saeed makes a compelling argument for the prostitute-performer's right to live and work with dignity ... an engrossing read. The Book Review South Asia Special It is a product of authentic, honest and unbiased research, narrated in the form of an ethnography, which is an important tool for taking one aspect of a society as a window into the larger system. Star Weekend (Pakistan) The book breaks the myth propagated about prositutes in the society and presents the reality of their lives as they exist. The News on Sunday (Pakistan) ... an extremely gripping book, bristling with facts. The Nation Literary Supplement (Pakistan)
