From: a726226@daffy.mc.ti.com (savithri)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Multiple choice
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:59:34 GMT
Organization: _
Originator: a726226@daffy


Whoever is the author of this article, I wish to extend my
congradulations to you for observing the true nature of
the situation of women in India etc.  I am gald to note
that there are objective observers regarding such horrible
hopeless situations. MOST of the netters in this group are closed
minded and defend INDIA (and other countries)with blind fanatical passion
when one points out the outrageousness of certain situations.

Not too long ago when I made similar remarks about the pathetic,
hopeless plight of women in the third world, most of the netters
(except for five who communicatd via e-mail and I wonder why they
did not post it to SCI when they agreed, I suppose one only posts
to the group when one disagrees) gave some nonsense about how
things are changing and about how THEY personally don't know of 
women in such situations, etc. etc.  I do not care to respond to
any of their PERSONAL attacks.  I realised that I will never be
able to convince anyone (not that it matters!) that just because
one does not witness such atrocities that they are not prevelant.
Most of the people who come here come from reasonably well-off families,
and that constitutes less than a 1/4 the population of INDIA.
Most of the women who suffer silently come from the 65% living in 
utter poverty. Among the middle-class there is another kind of
harassment that you have mentioned such as teasing, pinching etc.
in addition to the domination and supression at the home front.

One netter made an asinine remark that they are
probably more contented and peaceful than the ones over here.
I wonder if he understands the absurdity of such a statement.
How do you explain to someone the utter hoplessness that these
women feel when they are victimized by the evils in the society
and worse still when they know that their little girls will be
victims too.  Again on this note, people gather in line to tell me
of the hideous crimes in this country (as if I am not aware of them).
The evils in this society towards women exists, but on a scale of
1 to 10, several of the far and mid-eastern countries are closer to 
ten than the west.  The far superior mode of communication makes the
public aware of the injustice here and atleast there is HOPE that
some organisation or group will help them.  In countries like INDIA
there is NO HOPE because the society refuses to acknowledge that 
these problems exist (just as several of the netters here despite
their erudition?). They say that they are aware that these things
happen, but downplay the size of these problems.  That is precisely
why there can be NO solution. If one looks only around the SMALL
microscopic world of one's relatives, friends, neighbours, then
one might be lucky (or unlucky) to find that these problems are
not that significant.  But one has to merely take time to talk
to the misfortunate (the majority) people and suddenly your bright
magnificent culture that one is SO proud of comes crumbling down.
Every time I visit INDIA, I get physically ill when I see the 
hopeless pilght of these women with little children trying to be
so brave in such a cruel society.  Although many of my relatives and 
friends understand me intellectually, I don't believe they see it
on an emotional level.  This is due to the DEAD nature of that society.
Nothing will change, so lets get used to this evil.  Most Indians
do not get involved in community service and even when I wanted to
during my school and college days, my father always discouraged it
(he was afraid that I would be attacked).  Over here, most people
do some kind of volunteer work and hence don't depend on the
governement to take care of problems that they can deal with.

Anyway to cut the already LONG posting short, I once again applaud
you on not only your observation, but also on having the courage to
speak it out.

Regards.

Savithri 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian