The book is a journey of discovery into the infamous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar), of Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances had ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has given birth for centuries to many well known performing artists. The book paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers and customers.

Taboo: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Politics & Social Sciences

Saeed, Fouzia

Sociology

Oxford University Press

<p>The book is a journey of discovery into the infamous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar), of Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances had ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has given birth for centuries to many well known performing artists. The book paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers and customers.</p>

Taboo: A Ph. D. Girl in the Red Light Area

Social Sciences

Pakistani society has created and reinforced many myths to explain why the phenomenon of prostitution has nothing to do with 'nice people'. These myths put all the blame on immoral women who are understood to be responsible for tricking honest men into sinful acts. Our society has also strongly discouraged anyone from questioning these myths or even trying to look at the issue in a realistic manner. This resistance stems from the unspoken fear that any honest assessment of the situation would uncover the double standards that the South Asian patriarchal system has created for distinguishing 'good' from 'bad' women, thus threatening our society's fake sense of morality. This book is a journey of discovery into the famous red light district of the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazar), or Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances has ancient roots in South Asia. The areas where the practice is centered have given birth for centuries to many well-known performing artists. The areas are hubs for creative productions as well as nurture the talents of poets, singers, actors, and the gurus, musicians and composers of classical music. These places are quite different from the typical 'red light districts' in the west. The social stigma attached to prostitution has led our governments over the years to initiate several brutal attempts to 'eradicate' the phenomenon in the Shahi Mohalla and elsewhere. However, every effort to curb this phenomenon has only resulted in a destruction of the traditional controls over the practice and the links between prostitution and art. Ironically, these efforts also served to drive the practice out of its traditional centers and into the 'nicer' parts of the city. As a result, prostitution now flourishes underground in all parts of Lahore, bereft of ancient rules of conduct and involving thousands of women from all walks of life, vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The double irony is that while public campaigns for eradication continue the practice of prostitution remains quietly protected by the government; just as it has for centuries. Understanding this paradox is the crux of the book. In order to provide an understanding of the traditional practices of prostitution the book attempts to capture a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the lives of the people who live in the Shahi Mohalla, the musicians, the prostitutes and their pimps, managers and customers. The book describes the lives of people who are struggling to make a living by following ancient traditions, yet not knowing clearly where they fit in the larger picture of present day Pakistan. The book also highlights the contributions that the inhabitants of the Shahi Mohalla have made to our society and to the world of art at large. By breaking these myths that surround the practice of traditional prostitution, the book helps eradicate a blind spot in our understanding of the power relations associated with gender roles throughout our society.

Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area, with an additional Epilogue

Anthropology

Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area is a journey of discovery into the infamous red-light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar) or Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances has ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has for centuries given rise to many well-known performing artists. Here author Fouzia Saeed paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers, and customers.

Taboo! Lib/E: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Made for Success

[Read by Ashlyn Kindberg] Fouzia Saeed heads to the front lines to bust the myths surrounding traditional prostitution in Pakistan. - - Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area is a journey of discovery into the infamous red-light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar) or Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances has ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has for centuries given rise to many well-known performing artists. Here author Fouzia Saeed paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers, and customers.

Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Working with Sharks: A Pakistani Woman's Story of Sexual Harassment in the United Nations - From Personal Grievance to Public Law

<p>"Little did I know that my intimidation by senior officers in the UNDP had only just begun." Fouzia Saeed dreamed of bringing social change to the women of Pakistan and was thrilled to land her dream job at the world's ethical compass and institutional tour de force: The United Nations. As expected, the UN was a gathering place for passionate minds devoted to human rights and justice for all. Shockingly, at the UN mission in Pakistan it was also a breeding ground for powerful men who viewed women as sexual objects rather than professional equals. Refusing her boss's advances didn't stop the harassment. Reporting him to superiors didn't either. In her years-long struggle with torment and humiliation at the UN, Fouzia held strong, knowing her fight for women's rights was the only thing that could keep her going. But how do you fight for others' rights when you cannot even take hold of your own? Can you ever change a culture that views sexual harassment by a man as a woman's crime? Fouzia and a group of female colleagues, who similarly suffered in the workplace, gained the courage to risk their reputations. They filed a joint compliant and promptly found themselves under attack by their managers who aligned with the perpetrator in an effort to crush their case. Working with Sharks follows eleven indestructible women and the case that sparked a national movement and culminated in the passage of legislation that made sexual harassment a crime in Pakistan in 2010. Inspirational and poignant, Working with Sharks encourages women in any part of the world to find their voice and stand up to sexual harassment.</p>

Advances Press

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Books by Saeed, Fouzia

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Saeed, Fouzia. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Taboo: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Taboo: A Ph. D. Girl in the Red Light Area

Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area, with an additional Epilogue

Taboo! Lib/E: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area

Working with Sharks: A Pakistani Woman's Story of Sexual Harassment in the United Nations - From Personal Grievance to Public Law

Working with Sharks: A Pakistani Woman's Story of Sexual Harassment in the United Nations - From Personal Grievance to Public Law