Women, Identity and India's Call Centre Industry (Routledge Research on Gender in Asia Series)

This book examines the concept of globalised identities and the way in which agency is exercised over identity construction by women working in India’s transnational call centre industry. Drawing on qualitative empirical data and extensive original fieldwork, the book provides a nuanced analysis of the experiences of Indian women call centre workers and the role of women’s participation in the global labour market. The author uses social, cultural, and historical factors to create a framework for examining the processes of identity construction. Within this framework, the book explores the impact of the call centre labour process on the social landscape of urban centres in India and the way in which this has impacted upon transformations and shifts in society with relation to gendered, sexual, and generational relationships. Highlighting the significance of identity in a globalised world, the author argues that identity acts as one of the most powerful constructs in transforming global ‘scapes’ and flows of culture and economics. This book will be of interest to academics working on South Asia, gender and labour studies and issues of globalization, identity and social change. Economics, Finance, Business & Industry Book Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 10 Figures 11 Acknowledgements 12 Abbreviations 14 Prologue 16 1 Introduction: ‘A myriad of well-wishing “little sisters”’ 18 2 Globalizing India: The rise of the call centre and BPO industries 45 3 Pinking and rethinking professional identities: The construction of women’s work identities 73 4 BTMs in BPOs: Using sartorial strategies to establish patterns of identification and recognition 111 5 Techs and the city: Challenging patriarchal norms through spatial practice 149 6 Conclusion: Agency and identity 176 Epilogue 182 Glossary 184 Notes 185 Bibliography 199 Index 220 Introduction : 'a Myriad Of Well-wishing Little Sisters' -- Globalizing India : The Rise Of The Call Centre And Bpo Industries -- Pinking And Rethinking Professional Identities : The Construction Of Women's Work Identities -- Btms In Bpos : Using Sartorial Strategies To Establish Patterns Of Identification And Recognition -- Techs And The City : Challenging Patriarchal Norms Through Spatial Practice -- Conclusion : Agency And Identity. J.k. Tina Basi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [182]-202) And Index. This book examines the concept of identity in a globalized world and the way in which agency is exercised over identity construction by women working in India's transnational call centre industry. Based on rich empirical data and original fieldwork, the author provides a nuanced analysis of the experiences of Indian women call centre workers and the role of women's participation in the global labour market Examines the concept of globalised identities and the way in which agency is exercised over identity construction by women working in India's transnational call center industry. This book offers an analysis of role of women's participation in the global labor market. It is suitable for academics working on South Asia, gender and labor studies.