Struggle and resistance: Punjabi women in Birmingham

Abstract

The thesis examines the relationship between race, gender and class and argues that any one of these aspects cannot be studied in isolation whilst examining the social position of Asian women.
The connection between these aspects is established by looking at the state, employment and the family. An examination of state legislation and practices shows that the impact of the state racism is mediated by both gender and class divisions.
The experience of Asian women's employment under capitalism emhasises the class oppression, but this study shows that this is specifically experienced in racist and sexist forms.
Asian women in the family experience patriarchal oppression but this too is mediated through race and class distinctions. Such factors have important implications for the political organisation and unity of all women in terms of their gender, race and class.
The research combines the use of interview techniques with participant observation and provides a historical examination of the impact of immigration legislation, Asian, and Black women's organisations, and campaigns on immigration and domestic violence.
The thesis provides ethnographical material and a theoretical analysis to demonstrate that though the triple oppression framework has been addressed elsewhere, the concept of class has not received adequate attention. This study makes a modest attempt towards addressing that inadequacy. It shows that class divisions amongst Asian women have a crucial bearing on the way in which their race and gender oppression is experienced. In so doing it thereby integrates the importance of class factors into the triple oppression and resistance of Asian women in Britain.