Bindi-fying the Self: Cultural Identity among Diasporic South Asians. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamid, Wajihah
• Is Part Of: South Asia research. Volume 35:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Asians -- bindi -- culture -- diaspora -- dress -- globalisation -- Hindu -- modernity -- Singapore -- South Asians; South Asia -- Periodicals; 954.0072
• DOI: 10.1177/0262728014560472
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0262-7280

Abstract

This article examines changes to cultural identity when South Asians move around the globe. It focuses specifically on the humble bindi as a marker of one specific South Asian woman's agency and comes up with wide-ranging suggestions about the scope for using such bodily adornments as a tool for skilled cultural navigation in diaspora. It also suggests avenues for further research.