Alcira Forero-Pena (CUNY, City University of New York)

Alcira Forero-Pena
Doctoral Candidate in Anthropology
CUNY Graduate School

Mail address:
410 Third Street. #1 
Brooklyn, NY 11215  USA

phones: 718-965-0351 (residence)
        212-817-7219
fax:    212-817-2987
email:  aforero-pena@gc.cuny.edu

Description of work:

I am a doctoral candidate in anthropology at CUNY Graduate School
specializing in Kerala. My ethnographic and historical research has
focussed on women and education in contemporary Malayalee history. My work
is grounded in critical theories of education, "development", and
feminism. In contrast to most accounts which are overwhelmingly
enthusiastic about Kerala's unique history and social development, my data
and analysis suggest that despite gains in literacy and access to 
formal education, actual autonomy and empowerment for women of Kerala are
still issues of struggle.

Key Words:  Kerala, Women and Education, Feminism, Development