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Original research NAVIGATING FEMININE PROFESSIONAL SPACES: A STUDY OF MALE CLASSICAL DANCERS IN GUWAHATI CITY OF ASSAMPages 25-30
Abstract
India is known for its rich artistic traditions, diversity, and cultural legacy, the northeastern state of Assam is known for its unique and original traditional dances. Guwahati which is the capital of Assam have different artistic forms and performances, which have developed new ideologies that have challenged the social norms. In Assam dancing is considered feminine, but there are countless men who are performing traditional dances defying the customary gender roles. These male dancers have the required skills and talents to execute the traditional dance forms with elegance. However, there is limited information regarding the effects of these traditional dances on the masculinity of the male dancers. This study has the purpose of critically assessing these areas by collecting information from 10 male traditional dancers who have preserved their masculinity despite engaging in the feminine professional environment with the help of qualitative interviews. The main findings of this study have indicated that the Assamese male dancers mainly choose the traditional dances because of their family members and their love for the culture. These dancers are preserving their masculinity by accomplishing and develop expertise in cultural dances and becoming a part of the community.
Keywords: Feminine Spaces, Masculinity, Gender Stereotype, Social Convention.
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Samikshya Madhukullya, 
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