History of Femicide and South Asian Feminists’ Perspective

Abstract

Femicide, taking different forms including honour killing and infanticide, in South Asia has remained an important part of discourse around gender-based violence in the region. Much of the research done on femicide, like other forms of gender-based violence in South Asia, has been done by Western researchers. This paper argues that much of the Western work around femicide in South Asia adopts an Orientalist approach which often results in the ‘othering’ of the experiences and struggles of South Asian women. In order to discuss different aspects of their struggle and experiences, this paper focuses on two cases of femicide in South Asia and the corresponding responses from South Asian feminists. In discussing nuances related to the culture and women’s personal lives, the paper focuses on their advocacy and the consequent impact which often goes undiscussed when their suffering is ‘othered’ and deemed incomprehensible in mainstream discourses.