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| Tuesday, 4 November 2003 |
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Book Review : The inequity of discrimination by Afreeha Jawad Remember this writer's article on facade - that all of the system's impositions have latent and manifest functions and therefore confronting ourselves with what is real and true or the ideal state is only wishful thinking - an example being democracy's theme song, majoritarianism. While democracy reaches out to universalism - so very profound and all pervading, it's poison seed majoritarianism is not without divisiveness and conflict. Through this same lens some of the most outstanding systemic facades are perceived in the book, 'Sociology of Gender' edited by Sharmila Rege - yet another publication of Sage Publications of India. Karuna Chanana's excellent paper on female sexuality and education of Hindu girls in India deserves reading. Is education an equaliser is her interest area. Karuna with her heightened intellectuality perceives why it is not so and claims women's education objectives to have been formulated within their traditional roles - not far from the truth anyway. "Women as keepers of the domestic realm and as primary agents of the socialisation of children were essential for the success of sons and husbands." Against this backdrop this writer is reminded of even sayings such as 'Behind every successful man is a woman' that fosters gender. She even points out how education for girls was to embellish their feminine qualities. Admitting the biological differences in the sexes, she emphatically states how those differences were enhanced whereby social roles were thrust on men and women - the latter who were physically weak were weakened further through inferior social roles cast on her - of household chores and childbearing. The education introduced was therefore geared towards fitting her into those social roles - education for socialisation and re-enforcing patriarchal ideology. Perceiving the educational system's ambiguity, Karuna cleverly asks how education could act as an equaliser when the primary and secondary socialisation process itself fosters gender. Come to think of it, her argument is unequivocal. In primary socialisation girls are gifted with dolls, pots and pans while boys are showered with toy cars, aeroplanes and shot guns. In the secondary socialisation process though there is a commonality of subjects for both sexes the grooming of girls for housekeeping is done - a sort of discreet exercise in future role preparation while boys learn karate, cadetting, judo and so on. Cricket for girls is unthinkable. In music boys play the drum whereas girls are offered vocal and instrumental music. Karuna very indignantly pinpoints the gross negation of that very sublime concept - equality, when she says: "Such gender based division in music sports, education etc; at home and school re-enforces the belief that division is natural and hence must be maintained." Patricia Uberoi's essay "Problems of patriarchy" is most invigorating as she delves into areas of patriarchy, it's historical take over followed by its demytholisation. Gender and caste, gender and economy, gender and class, heterosexuality and economy, male defined femininity - all make interesting reading - an attempt of Beatrice Kachuck. "Gender in the making of the Indian nation state" by Maitrayee Chaudhuri is a critical analysis of how patriarchy and motherhood helps nation state functioning not to forget male property rights and free market as well that facilities such functioning. Middle class domesticity of woman - a Victorian ideal, contending ideas of women as democratic citizens and makers of culture and women as dependent housewives and independent workers portray how 'effectively' women have been manipulated purposefully. Chaudhuri's discovery of the liberal state reflects a sharp mind for she finds it surprising how this 'liberal state' while speaking of gender equality and an all inclusive egalitarian concept at the same instance prefers patriarchal family, free market and private property rights. Constitutions that vehemently speak for equality allows religious personal laws that affect women, the majority community that identifies with the nation state while degrees of discomfort persist with minorities and a whole host of varied duplicity filled with contradictions in what the system preaches and puts into practice have got sufficient exposure. It's a book not to be missed particulary by adherents of freedom, liberal thinking, egalitarianism and democracy. Contributing significantly to this intellectual wonder are G. N. Ramu, Leela Dube, Tiplut Nongri, Homar Hoodfar, Mohini Sethi, C. V. Kala, Pat Caplan, Linda, J. Epp and Judith Whitehead. |
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