Wednesday, 16th September 2009 – 21:37
It’s being late and I have some work to do for tomorrow 8 am (response diary of Women Studies), but I would like to share something right now. Tonight, Solène had invited two of her friends from the Health Sciences department of Pune University. I have learnt a lot about the condition of women in India and I was even shocked by what I have heard. They told us about the stories of two girls from their department.
The first story is not so harsh. It is just that a girl who seems so young is in fact married. It was an arranged marriage from which she was told by her parents only two months before it occurred. She just had to accept the man, her future husband. Once married, she had to leave her family to live with her husband’s one. And now, she misses her parents a lot. You may think that she may be happy. She would tell you that no matter what she feels, she just has to cope with her condition because it is her life now.
The second story is about another married girl, arranged marriage again. But this one did not like her husband at all. She spent maximum time in the Health department to come back home as late as possible. Two or three weeks ago, she decided to escape with her closest boy friend who was also a student from the Health department. Her family and her husband’s family were really upset. Some people found the boy she escaped with and hit him badly. From then on, nobody has seen either this boy or the girl at the department. Their lives are ruined, they will never come back to this university and both families have lost their honour.
While hearing these stories, I realized how naïve I had been to think that all women going to university, especially in master, were emancipated women. I thought that such stories happened only in small villages or at least, not with educated people. Apparently, I was wrong. Now, I understand better what is meant by the poor condition of women in India. And still, these are only two ‘soft’ stories. I am sure you could ask anyone, they would tell you about a women found burned in her kitchen or seriously hurt because of an acid attack. These facts are those of their husbands, a punishment which can lead to the death of the woman. Some others would tell you about how widows, in villages, are excluded from and by the society. They are put aside in a special area where they have to stay till the end of their days. Some are 16 when they come to those places and they have to live by themselves, like pariahs, during their whole lives.
Of course some things have been legally done (like the banishment of ‘jati’) and women’s associations, NGOs, organizations are numerous in India. However, archaisms are still very present in the society and the condition of women is far from being equal to the one of men. With this short writing, I do not aim giving a complete overview of women’s issues in India, but just at sharing about those stories and my thought at this precise moment. I hope it will help you to think about the question.
It’s being late and I have some work to do for tomorrow 8 am (response diary of Women Studies), but I would like to share something right now. Tonight, Solène had invited two of her friends from the Health Sciences department of Pune University. I have learnt a lot about the condition of women in India and I was even shocked by what I have heard. They told us about the stories of two girls from their department.
The first story is not so harsh. It is just that a girl who seems so young is in fact married. It was an arranged marriage from which she was told by her parents only two months before it occurred. She just had to accept the man, her future husband. Once married, she had to leave her family to live with her husband’s one. And now, she misses her parents a lot. You may think that she may be happy. She would tell you that no matter what she feels, she just has to cope with her condition because it is her life now.
The second story is about another married girl, arranged marriage again. But this one did not like her husband at all. She spent maximum time in the Health department to come back home as late as possible. Two or three weeks ago, she decided to escape with her closest boy friend who was also a student from the Health department. Her family and her husband’s family were really upset. Some people found the boy she escaped with and hit him badly. From then on, nobody has seen either this boy or the girl at the department. Their lives are ruined, they will never come back to this university and both families have lost their honour.
While hearing these stories, I realized how naïve I had been to think that all women going to university, especially in master, were emancipated women. I thought that such stories happened only in small villages or at least, not with educated people. Apparently, I was wrong. Now, I understand better what is meant by the poor condition of women in India. And still, these are only two ‘soft’ stories. I am sure you could ask anyone, they would tell you about a women found burned in her kitchen or seriously hurt because of an acid attack. These facts are those of their husbands, a punishment which can lead to the death of the woman. Some others would tell you about how widows, in villages, are excluded from and by the society. They are put aside in a special area where they have to stay till the end of their days. Some are 16 when they come to those places and they have to live by themselves, like pariahs, during their whole lives.
Of course some things have been legally done (like the banishment of ‘jati’) and women’s associations, NGOs, organizations are numerous in India. However, archaisms are still very present in the society and the condition of women is far from being equal to the one of men. With this short writing, I do not aim giving a complete overview of women’s issues in India, but just at sharing about those stories and my thought at this precise moment. I hope it will help you to think about the question.
Coucou Elise,
RépondreSupprimerJust read your text about the conditions of women in India ! Just amazing, like you, I wouldn't have thought about so shocking matters about arranged marriages in India. It's terrible, thank you for making us aware about this phenomenon. Anyway,only wanted to say to you that your text is excellently writtent in perfect and fluent English !! Good job ! Go on like this, and, what can we do for these women.. Just let it do ....
Your mum and dad and little sister Louise
Même si certaines françaises ont aussi des difficultés, il est navrant de voir ce genre de situation. J'ai eu du mal à lire ton texte, mais Google a traduit.
RépondreSupprimerBisous. Maryvonne