Zealous reformers and deadly laws : battling stereotypes / Madhu Purnima Kishwar.

From Manusmitri to Madhusmriti : flagellating a mythical enemy -- Zealous reformers and deadly laws : the conflicting interpretations and politics of Sati -- Naive outpourings of a self-hating Indian : Deepa Mehta's fire -- Allies or adversaries? the continuing hold of traditional female moral exemplars in India -- Learning to take people seriously -- Dowry : to ensure her happiness or to disinherit her? -- Using women as a pretext for censorship : the indecent representation of women (prohibition) bill -- Women's organizations I : vengeance squads, firefighters or counsellors? -- Women's organizations II : the pressure of unrealistic expectations -- Laws against domestic violence : underused or abused? -- Well-intentioned but over ambitious : a review of the new domestic violence act -- Destined to fail : inherent flaws in the anti-dowry legislation -- Toiling without rights : Ho women of Singhbhum -- Inheritance rights for women : a response to some commonly expressed fears -- Nature of women's mobilization in rural India -- The logic of quotas : women's movement splits on the reservation bill -- Indian politics : encourages durgas, snubs women -- Enhancing women's representation in legislatures : an alternative to the government bill for women's reservation -- Lack of gender solidarity : systematic degrading of women politicians.