Abstract

RAMTOHUL, Ramola. Gender and politicized religion in Mauritius. Soc. relig. [online]. 2014, vol.24, n.42, pp.194-208. ISSN 1853-7081.

This paper looks at the gender dimension of politicized religion in Mauritius. Mauritius has a plural society with strongly entrenched divisions. The Mauritian population is entirely composed of migrants, mainly from France, the African continent, India and China. Due to the fear of Hindu domination, the population was divided on the issue of independence and 44% of the people voted against independence of the country. The fear of Hindu domination in an independent Mauritius led to growing competition between the different communities and religious groups for representation in parliament. As Mauritius moved towards independence and the end of colonial rule, religion became increasingly politicized. Representation on ethnic, religious or communal grounds was then enshrined in the constitution and electoral system. The paper argues that politicized religion in Mauritius carries a significant gender dimension as it has led to the marginalisation of gender and women's representation in political institutions and parliament. Moreover, politicized religion has also weakened the women's movement as women's multiple identities and their identification with these different identities conflict with their political activism, thereby dividing women into different sectarian groups

Keywords : gender; politicized religion; communalism; politics; Mauritius.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )