Dr. Mitra offers a valuable contribution to the existing scholarly literature in a number of areas in sociology, most notably feminist sociology, the sociology of globalization, and organizational sociology. This study exemplifies the intersectional approach that is much discussed in the Western academy, as it applies to a context where it is perhaps less extensively employed: the lives of middle ... Read moreand upper-class women working for social change in contemporary Kolkata, India.
Paul Draus, The University of Michigan-Dearborn As Aditi remarks in her preface, the under privileged classes in India have been given considerable attention in the media and in economic and sociological studies, while women of other classes have received less attention. As a consequence, an image of India has been created that does not reflect the multi-layered, complex reality. Aditi’s book seeks to redress the balance. Even though her focus is necessarily narrow, limiting itself to the women in Kolkata, it is rich, complex and detailed, and offers a perspective that the percipient reader will realize may be applied to urban India as a whole.
Mangala Gauri Chakraborty, Loreto College The book is rich with personal narratives of women, and in their voices their conundrums, insecurities and questioning are palpable. What is also useful is the author’s awareness and integration of class, while at the same time getting the reader to appreciate that class privilege does not necessarily confer empowerment or a sense of satisfaction with one’s life situation. Often, the NGO workers often had to negotiate familial disapproval. The book demonstrates how working to ameliorate the situation of women who are socio-economically or otherwise marginalized, also helped the middle and upper class women studies…Dr. Mitra’s transnational personal background brings a valuable perspective that is informed from both within and without. In addition, her academic work and insights enriched the theoretical underpinnings and questions she brought to the research...
Dolores Chew, Marianopolis College Show Less