With the emergence of Hindu nationalism; the conversion of Indians to Christianity has become a volatile issue; erupting in violence against converts and missionaries. At the height of British colonialism; however; conversion was a path to upward mobility for low-castes and untouchables; especially in the Tamil-speaking south of India. In this book; Eliza F. Kent takes a fresh look at these conversions; focusing especially on the experience of women converts and the ways in which conversion transformed gender roles and expectations. Kent argues that the creation of a new; "respectable" community identity was central to the conversion process for the agricultural laborers and artisans who embraced Protestant Christianity under British rule. At the same time; she shows; this new identity was informed as much by elite Sanskritic customs and ideologies as by Western Christian discourse. Stigmatized by the dominant castes for their ritually polluting occupations and relaxed rules governing kinship and marriage; low-caste converts sought to validate their new higher-status identity in part by the reform of gender relations. These reforms affected ideals of femininity and masculinity in the areas of marriage; domesticity; and dress. By the creation of a "discourse of respectability;" says Kent; Tamil Christians hoped to counter the cultural justifications for their social; economic; and sexual exploitation at the hands of high-caste landowners and village elites. Kent's focus on the interactions between Western women missionaries and the Indian Christian women not only adds depth to our understanding of colonial and patriarchal power dynamics; but to the intricacies of conversion itself. Posing an important challenge to normative notions of conversion as a privatized; individual moment in time; Kent's study takes into consideration the ways that public behavior; social status; and the transformation of everyday life inform religious conversion.
#275944 in Books 2004-02-26Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .70 x 9.20l; .85 #File Name: 0195155637272 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Good Intro of Hellenism and Roman PeriodBy nafricaThis book covers four broad areas of ancient history: non-Greek eastern Mediterranean civilizations; the Greek world; the Roman world; and late antiquity. It's a very ambitious project; especially since this is a slim volume (some 200 odd pages). I found only the Greek and Roman sections to be sufficiently detailed to make it worth reading. The other two sections were way too superficial and brief. I mean; how do you adequately cover the Hittites in two pages or the rise of Islam in a page? Why even mention them at all? That being said; I thought for an introductory work; the Greek and Roman sections were full of interest and engaging analysis. I think the authors were smart to focus on broad themes rather than a blow by blow chronological account. Overall; I would recommend this book; but only for its Greek and Roman histories.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Ancient World TextbookBy Dolores L. SparrowI am using this book for a history course that I will take (and help teach) in the Fall Semester 2009. It is well-written; very concise. I found the graphics very helpful also. My only disappointment was having a question for the authors that I could not "ask." Robin Winks is now deceased and I don't think Susan Parkes is at UGA any longer. So I was not able to send along my question about the Mesopotamians. Dr. Dolores L. Sparrow0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Straight to the pointBy Charlene CampbellNo fluff... Just gives the info no uneeded extras. Good stuff tells info in a story format to easy to read and process.
