Women and the Process of Decolonization

Madam, you dissect with a sharp scalpel the travails of Hindu women in India and indigenous women in Mexico and god knows where else. And yet, not a word about acid being thrown in the faces of poor schoolgirls or the imposition of shuttlecock burkhas.

Gandhi's "Hindu India" lost no time in reforming Hindu marriage and inheritance laws. And our Muslim sisters got the Hudood ordinance (in Pakistan) and the Muslim Personal Law (in India).

Nice to see a researched article on Chowk. One would have expected that nationalist movements for decolonization while aiming to empower the native population would also empower the women of the country. Apparently that did not happen, at least in the case of Pakistan, though I think India fared better.
It is very convenient for patriarchies to inculcate the notion that women should be self sacrificial. This enables these societies to keep women out of the political and economic landscape. While many men have been extremely supportive of women in their families, on the whole society tries to keep the women out of key decision making arena. For example it is only recently that women have started playing a more active political role, even in the Western nations. In the past women writers had to use masculine pennames to get their work published and most top universities did not accept women students.

This is a well researched article indeed !

The section on Algeria reminded me of "the battle of Algiers"- where women were constantly used in the rebellion..

There has been so many things said on the violation of women rights and the subjugation in general that I really have nothing to add at this point- the only point is even in a relatively modern society, subtle forms of sexism still exists..

And on a lighter note, I wonder when our "Wake up males, speak up" band of brothers will be here with their blatant sexism. :-)

good article
Agha Amin

Very well written article

Monica Nat
You are saying that anti-colonialism led to the restoration of older balance between man and woman in post-colonial times. After the colonialists left every country found itself drawn to industrialisation. Those who considered modernity/education a colonialist heritage could find it hard to adjust. You made a comment about Mahatama Gandhi which is quite indicative of such confusion. The post-colonial state in these de-colonized countries failed to reach its people. The North-American natives have always been kept distant by the state. You will find them vibrant and participating in Mexico and other South American countries.

Re: # 1
elora...
Subjugation of women started in India during mediaval period...Before that, women in India used to enjoy much freedom than now...The easier way to remind people is through the various goddesses prayed in various regions...
Those regions, where Islamic influence is more (cow belt), the Goddesses vanished; so is the social respect for women...But in South India and East, Goddesses still play a vital role in social lives...
In Bengal, during Durga puja, most of families bring their married daughters and their kids to parental home, which is the basic theme of Durga Puja (Menaka, wife of Himalaya brings her daughter Uma and her kids ( Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik) to her home)....At the day of Mahastami, a brahmin girl under the age of 10 is treated as goddess durga ( Kumari puja)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE0ObFCaOoE

Islam/Muslaism is something different...It is rightly regarded as anti-civilization.....

#7 Worship of Goddesses does not necessarily means that the women in that society will be better treated. I doubt that women in general (not the maharanis) had a lot of rights in the times of Ashoka or Muriya.

While it may appears that any partciular religion is suppressing women, the underlying motivation for subordination of women comes due to economic reasons. It is usually the struggle to control wealth in the society that leads to tighter controls on women; and that is also why custody of children become a major point of contention, because the kids are potential income generators.

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parthaab ji, namaste. Have no fear, the males are awake. I think your daily calls to action have ensured that they will never sleep again.

Parthaab bhai ....... Keep up the good work sir. You are an inspiration!

Down with this feminazism!!!

"...On average, women work fewer hours than men, hold more part-time jobs and earn 77% of what men make, she says. Men also still dominate higher-paying executive ranks..."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-09-02-womenwork_N.htm

# 12
What is your point in this one.

http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/11092009/2/biz-finance-women-men-paid-emp loyment-first-half-2009.html

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/hc-nod-wo men-nurses-354


WAKE UP, LAZY MALES! SPEAK UP!

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