From: ae414@yfn.ysu.edu (V Sundar)
Subject: Re: Changing role of women: A woman's perspective
Reply-To: ae414@yfn.ysu.edu (V Sundar)
Organization: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, OH
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:11:36 GMT


Here we go again !

Another " ape not the west " apologist for traditionalism :)
Geeze, wotta sorry state of affairs ! :)

In a previous article, sgs@ucs.usl.edu (Sudhindranath SG) says:

>As I said before, mainstream Indian women's lib movement _is_ a 
>mimicry of the Western women's lib movement. This is clear 

That, dear ally pally, does not make it undesirable per se. I know
you never said it was undesirable, but that's what I read between
the lines. Communications breakdown ?

>the West. IMO, indulging in pre-marital/extra-marital relationships 
>is one such influence.  You may or may not agree with this. But no one 
>can dispute that there is a Western influence. (I for one wouldn't

Listen up, dude :)

Extra-marital and/or premarital relationships happen all over the world,
east, west north, south or even eeshaana if you will !

Blaming this particular trend on the west is, like I said.. 
"apologist"-ism ! :) You mean to tell me there were no premarital /
extramarital affairs before the women's lib movements ?

Wake up, bubba, smell the coffee ! :)

One more thing. If there are references in the Indian women's lib movements
to what is happening in the west, I consider it more an acknowledgement
of inspiration.. rather than a sell-out like you portray it :)

Or maybe you think Indian women are already liberated enough and have no 
business asking to be liberated ? just maybe ? Huh huh huh ? :)

>AT ALL be surprised if women "libbers" in India soon pick up the 
>western woman's pro-abortion refrain of "the right over our bodies".
>Again IMO, the _body_ becomes all-important when the _soul_ ceases
>to have any importance, but I think I am digressing).

Digress shigress. I'm glad to see that abortions are available safely
and legally in India ( not factoring in medical competence or lack
thereof , that is ). Just where the hell did the soul come into all
this ? 

When the brides were being burnt maybe ? THEY had rights over their bodies, 
yes ?

The right to choice is more than just a "right over my body" deal, I am
sorry you haven't realized that yet. It is a question of how long an
existing male clique can dictate the morals of a group it dominates
in terms of power - which in case you don't realize it, happens to be 
the women.

It's a question of how long a situation as bad , if not worse, and more
insiduous than apartheid, can be tolerated.

It's a question of how long a group that's always been dicated to will
tyake it lying down. It's not so easy when someone fights back, is it ?

And now it's changing.. slowly. If you can't take the heat, get out of
the kitchen !

>I am aware of an "indigenous" women's liberation movement in India 
>which is more tuned to the needs of the society and less disruptive of
>existing social structures but such movements generally are relegated 
>to the background and it is the fire-brand Western-oriented women
>"libbers" (Neena Gupta et. al.) who get the limelight. This state of 
>affairs is truly unfortunate.

I ask you, Sira Sudhindranath, just what is so all-blasted-holy about the
existing social structures that they be not disrupted ?

I'm with you if you cite the factor of being "in tune" with Indian
society. There is always a backlog to work off.. yes ?

And a reform from within the system, some say .. ( this is arguable )
works slower but surer.

But your argument for "less disruptive" tactics smacks of reactionary
thought.. you know, take it easy, take it slow, it'll come in time..

If there exist such strange and fantastic creatures as the "firebrand 
feminists" you describe ( I myself see women who thought for themselves 
and made their own choices.. ) then i say, more power to them.

Maybe if we kick them hard enough, the grandaddies might just notice !

This is a movement that has enough social inertia to work against
getting off the ground as such. And ideas, wherever they come from,
are change.. change for the positive.

If that disrupts your existing social structure too much..

So be it.

Fiat justia, ruat coelum !

Sundar
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian