This is a program to speak out the limitations of WC and the drawbacks of existing law nd order , as far as I could understand. I participate as I think there is space to bring out the issues of patriarchy, gender and sexuality too gradually. Or I think feminist activists should try to make such a space in such programs.
On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 9:49 PM, venukm <[email protected]> wrote: > > I didn't mean that one or other doesn't understand those questions . > On the contrary, I wanted to raise a few questions about the > calculative silence ,or rather, > the conspiracy of silence of the opinion makers including prominent > fighters for women's cause. > In spite of having fought many a successful battle on the issue of > peedanam for nearly two and a half decades, > the fighters for women's rights cause here in Kerala do not want to > address > the core question;ie, the issue of gender justice vis a vis full > citizenship, > This is esp true in the context of sexuality and autonomy over body. > I'm sure Maya has not missed the advertisement by the WC, issued in > service of women as tips for their protection against violence. > It is mainly addressed to the middle class women and women who have > access to the internet, mobile phone and the 'outlandish' concepts of > fashion and beauty. It warns against women falling prey to > globalization. > It virtually ignores the plight of the women Maya had been referring > to, who are in fact much more exposed to outright violence and rape > within and outside the family in their day to day lives...In many > cases they are mercilessly thrown in the hands of racketeers by their > own relatives and yet it is they who they are warned against 'misuse' > of mobile phones and the internet. > If my understanding is correct, it is not the poor girls/ women who > are"misusing".It would be more accurate to say that in the course of > genuine use of these gadgets, there are chances of being victimized > through the misuse by gangsters. In that sense, even while > legitimately seeking entertainment and pleasure through the cyber > world, one has reasons to be warned. Girls wearing genes, visiting > pub, using the internet ,using mobile phones themselves need not be > the causes of peedanam. On the contrary, what the cultural elite > advices the ill-educated or semi literate girls is to shun these as > pitfalls created by the forces of globalization . Again, authenticity > to express as individuals is arbitrarily denied to these category of > women. > It is embarrassing that the chair persons of the state and the > central commissions for women have gone on record > denigrating questions of sexuality as central to the problem of > peedanam. > Unfortunately, despite her understanding of the issue in right > perspective, Maya argues that majority of women are yet not > enlightened enough to express as individuals sans wifes/daughters/ > sisters, as persons with rights to citizenship! > This is the crux of the issue. Written law is one thing and the > unwritten law of the society and family is another. > I didn't want to belittle the importance of struggles and campaigns > like pennkodathi. > But I was only trying to whether they would ever be able to guide or > lead the women on the lines of defending their rights for sexuality > beyond the bounds of patriarchy. It is not just about pragmatism but > politics and gender justice. Do you (Maya) mean to say that the time > has not yet come to talk patriarchy?If yes, I beg to disagree. > Regards, > Venu. > > > On 5 Mar, 22:03, Maya <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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. > > > -- Maya S. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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