The vicious rape of a young woman on a bus in India has
highlighted the position that women have held in India for eons. Yes, there
have been stand out examples of women who have gone against the trend and
excelled in both politics and business, but for the majority, life is one of ‘lost
opportunities.’ Men have traditionally seen women as being unequal in many
senses of the word.
I have been told by Indian friends that this is not true and
that women wield a great deal of power in the home, but that’s just it----IN
THE HOME. I am not denigrating the position of motherhood or home-maker, but is
that not limiting women to only one role in life. At a time when millions of Indians
are moving from poverty to the middle classes and higher, women do not figure
as having gained proportionally. Men still dominate politics and business, apart
from the obvious exceptions.
Many women and men were disgusted by the recent rape and
subsequnet death of the young woman on the bus. There have been
riots and protests. Indian politicians will speak weasel words but until there
is a major cultural shift in India, things will not change.
I know my Indian readers will take offence at my words and I
also know that India’s business is just that----India’s. I just hope that India
will find a way to make this ground shift and value the more than 50% that
females represent in the population. In that figure lies some of the problems
India faces too----- the disproportionate number of male to female; much like
that we see in China.
My harsh words aside, I have only my best wishes to offer
and fervently hope that India finds a different path for its women and girls.
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