 On
the wheel
Photo essay: Women in India
Ali Akbar Mahdi
September 15, 2004
iranian.com
Indian society is a patriarchal society, despite
efforts by many female activists, feminist organizations,
and even government agencies. Many
families still follow the dowry system, which is more conspicuous among the
rural and less educated population. Caste system is still operative in the
lives of many Indians. Abuse of women, both inside and outside home, is prevalent.
Like Islamic societies, inheritance rules treat women differently. It is
hard not to see the disregard for female voice even in social interactions
in the streets, shopping malls, and home fronts >>> See
photos
Still, for an Iranian-American, who has lived in and seen several
Middle Eastern countries, it was a refreshing surprise to
see so many women on the wheel. Not even in America do I
see so many women on scooters (it reminded me of Amsterdam
where you see many women on bicycles). Surely, this is
a function of the specific needs of this society.
Nevertheless,
in a still traditional setting, the presence of women in
public arena and their ability to be on the wheel, without
restrictions that are often found in other societies, is
quite progressive.
Though out of necessity, and often limited
in its liberating effect, this makes Indian women much
more mobile than women in the Middle East. With so many women
in the public arena, it was hard to see why adequate
washing facilities did not exist, especially for women. Indian women work very hard. They even work on construction
jobs, as seen in a couple of these pictures. In most families,
they do most of the cooking, cleaning, and child-care, without
adequate recognition and respect. If widowed, they are treated
unfairly, often resulting in painful consequences. A good
deal of problems faced by Indian women is rooted in Indian
cultural traditions >>> See
photos
About
Ali Akbar Mahdi is a Professor at the Department of Sociology
and Anthropology in Ohio Wesleyan University. Homepage.
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