And yet, only three countries in the world are worse places for women than India- Afghanistan, Congo and Pakistan.
Female infanticide and foeticide. Forced marriages. Sex trafficing. Domestic violence. That is the reality of India, not women professionals heading banks and other corporations.
But what's worse is that we just don't care. I would have expected outrage. All I got was hushed silence.
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Afghanistan worst place in the world for women, but India in top five
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
9 comments:
I care! I admit that many years ago, when I first learned how badly women were treated in countries other than my own, I just felt overwhelmed. It seemed like too much for me to do anything about . . . except maybe give a little money to this or that girls education fund.
However, there is a movement in my church right now to take a bigger stand on this issue in India and in other countries. Many women from my church are reading "Half the Sky" by Nicholas D. Dristof and Sheryl WuDunn. We are talking about it, giving each other information on groups and organizations that have aid programs and also have training for people who want to take an active role in changing this problem in India and in our world. Sex trafficking, rape, forced marriages, genital mutilation, murder in the form of "punishment" by a husband or family member, are all problems that women should not have to face ever, and definitely not as often as women do today.
It's time to spread the word, and push for an end to the oppression of women.
Natasha - What really goes on in India must be almost too horrible to contemplate. I don't live there, so I don't know from experience. But from brave people such as you who speak out, I am learning. I am so grateful that there are people like you who do not keep silence and who will not be hushed up.
I'm currently attending a class on non-western women writers and my starting books are from India women writers. I just finished "Dreams of Trespass" about a female child's experience growing up in a harem and her attempts at trying to figure out what "Harem" really meant in the world.
It's so hard to imagine this is still going on today--and is still so prevalent. It has got to be incredibly frustrating to be faced with silence when you speak out!
But keep speaking. We can't stay silent forever! Terribly beautiful post, Rayna.
B
Some day women in India will rise up and change their world. May all the Goddesses help them!
How absolutely horrid Rayna. I really had no idea that was the situation in India for women. You capture such emotion in your well crafted drabbles. Sad and powerful at the same time.
Do the people you spoke with feel totally powerless? ashamed? it'd be interesting to know what they were thinking...
Keep speaking out Rayna, you're able to be vocal when others don't seem to have a voice - for whatever reason.
I had no idea, Rayna, except what I learned watching the documentary "Born into Brothels" which is incredible. Your voice is very powerful, so I hope you continue to speak out with your words and photos.
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