Answer to Question #211650 in Philosophy for 8645

Question

Sharmila Rege explores the gap between the social practice of caste and the academic    knowledge about it. What is this gap? Critically examine the specific dimensions of this gap. Through few instances, explain the ways in which this gap can be addressed.  800words

Answer 1

Rege was arguably one of the first academics to explain the underlying link between sociology  and gender studies. Rege aimed to bridge the gap between gender studies and mainstream  sociology, believing that this was necessary for feminist concerns to be heard. Rege attempted to demonstrate that there was and continues to be a need to overcome Indian sociology's often  condescending approach to women's issues. She compared the crocodile's delight in meeting  the monkey to the mainstream sociological discipline's failures in bringing radical feminist  pedagogy to the fore, while also bringing in a tokenized perception of women’s struggles in the gender studies areas.

Her reasoning was that in order to institutionalize the area of women's and gender studies, it needed to have deep roots in sociology as well. She criticized mainstream sociologists' use of the  "common sense" concept to analyze gendered issues, which feminists highlighted as lived  experiences. It drew attention to the patriarchal and infantilizing approach of gender issues in  academic settings.

Rege was noted for emphasizing the importance of incorporating oral traditions into a theoretical knowledge of sociology, which was a democratizing goal in many ways. Both artforms, she  claims, were vital to Marathi society and frequently highlighted a moral dilemma of sensuality and patriotism. Sharmila Rege embodied a very complete and rounded understanding of what is  expected of academics, the majority of whom had extremely Eurocentric roots, to interpret  existing knowledge into contemporary times while attempting to bring in a dynamic education  system.