I do understand these questions. And I know all the sentences nthis notice were not good a all ( to be frank, it was not mine anyway, though I do support in the program. ) And some of the feminists (including me) have raised such questions and have discussed it even long back. But, I think we have to see some realities. Having autonomy over own bodies and not being labelled as victims - are meant for *already liberated women*.( educated/employed//upper-middle class/ideological/political/social -individual women and groups of them) Women who are never exposed to the feminist thought are many in Kerala ( India in general, I would say). And among women from that large category , there are many who literally suffer ' peedanam' as a vidhi. And they cry out just because their bodies are injured and because they are afraid of loosing life. They do file cases and fail and sometimes become helpless with their superstitions and stigma etc. I dont think time has changed that much taht we should only do talk to them about being " active individuals/ collectivities fighting , challenging the male regime of gender and sexuality on the one hand, and demanding progressive reforms in education about sex and reproduction on the other". They dont even know what gender and sexuality mean. They jsut want some way first, to save themselves from the brutality that they face from men inside or outside house. So first the gradual changing steps still would have to be fllowed. Socially yes, it is high time to break the patriarchal family and social system. But In the short time of twenty years, the women`s rights has not fully enterd into the grass root level of society and major life situations still follow typical victimization. So, I think, even though it is time to strenthen the discourse of sexuality and gender we cannot stop doing something like this at the same time.
On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 3:54 PM, venukm <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well, we may do well to ask the organizations, or the personalities > presiding the pennkodathi these questions: > Do they really like to see women of Kerala ever having autonomy over > their bodies ? > Even while we find chapters of peedanam unending here in Kerala, are > we confident enough to be able in any near future, to stop seeing > women of Kerala just as victims of 'peedanam'? > When will we able to find them as active individuals/ collectivities > fighting , challenging the male regime of gender and sexuality on the > one hand, and demanding progressive reforms in education about sex and > reproduction on the other? > When will we/ they be able to take on this essentially anti-woman, > protectionist attitude that promotes kind of > single handed discourse on peedanam, wherein, active agency is denied > to women on every count? > When will be able to dispense with the need of outfits like "Stree > Suraksha Samithis" ,which virtually edifies the dictum of Manu (Women > should always be protected, and they never deserve to be free) > Flip side of the institution of peedanam is family, the burial ground > of every right of women to full citizenship. > It is high time that we openly defied Culture, Morals and Traditions > at least to the extent that they openly take sides with an agenda of > perpetuating patriarchy in all walks of life, be it physical labour, > reproduction, sexuality or the organization of family. > > On Mar 5, 12:24 am, Maya <[email protected]> wrote: > > sorry, the attachment didnt work for the last sent one > > > > -- > > Maya S. > > > > March 7 Notice.pmd > > 303KViewDownload > > > -- Maya S. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
