Course Glossary

A system of marriage where Nair women could contract sexual relationships with Namboodiri (Brahmin) and Nair men, with children being born and reared in the mother’s home.

An ancient Indo-Aryan language that is the liturgical language of Hinduism. It is historically associated with the Brahminical upper-castes and often symbolizes cultural capital and exclusivity. Therefore, Sanskrit is a language of exclusion.

The dominance of upper-caste ideologies and voices within movements, marginalizing others (Rege, 1998).

A system of discrimination and prejudice based on gender, primarily targeting women and gender minorities. It reinforces gender inequality in social, political, and economic spheres and is deeply tied to patriarchy.

The Sexual Revolution began in the 1960s in Europe and the USA. It led to a liberalizing attitude towards sex and morality. It was characterized by the relaxation of stringent moral rules and values around sex and sexuality. Broader acceptance for premarital sex, exploration of queer identities, forms of contraception – birth pill, abortion etc.

Refers to the historical forced transportation and enslavement of Africans, particularly to the Americas and Europe. The legacy of the slave trade continues to shape racial and class hierarchies, especially for Black communities.

A historical and ongoing system of forced labour and dehumanization, particularly associated with the transatlantic slave trade. Slavery disproportionately affected Black people, indigenous communities, and lower-caste groups, with its legacies continuing through systemic racism and economic exploitation.

A series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community against a police raid that took place in the early hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. The riots are widely considered a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States and around the world. The event marked a turning point, leading to the formation of advocacy groups and the annual celebration of Pride.