ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses gender in the context of politics in Jammu and Kashmir from various angles to understand how women are located in this state-turned-into-Union Territory. Going into the details related to the space that women occupy in the whole range of politics – electoral politics, protest politics, and conflict politics – it analyzes how the gender question has been dealt with and points out the ways in which patriarchy intervenes in women's political roles. It refers to various paradoxes related to women and politics. Despite the fact that women are highly mobilized and highly politically aware, there is a clear-cut gender role division in conflict politics which clearly remains male dominated. Besides presenting the details about women in formal politics and analysing their leadership role in this politics, the chapter also elaborates on women's role in the separatist politics of Kashmir and agitational politics in the Jammu region.
