Sreenivas, What are those *"womanly qualities"* ? Is it of sex or of gender ?
Regards Afthab Ellath On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 7:00 AM, sreenivas v.p <[email protected]>wrote: > Hi Maya , > Any forms of feminism that discard the ideas of "masculinity " and > "femininity " > is rubbish . Gender equality cannot be applied if we ignor the basic needs > of men and women with respect to their sexuality . I think feminists, to a > certain extent has contaminated the womanly qualities . > and i dont think you are fighting for equality . What you want is > feminisation of the world . > regards > sreenivas > > > > --- On *Fri, 6/3/09, Maya <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: Maya <[email protected]> > Subject: [GreenYouth] Re: March-8-Interntional Women` Day > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, 6 March, 2009, 10:43 PM > > 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]<http://in.mc87.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[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]<http://in.mc87.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[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]<http://in.mc87.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[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]<http://in.mc87.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]>> >> wrote: >> > > > sorry, the attachment didnt work for the last sent one >> > >> > > > -- >> > > > Maya S. >> > >> > > > March 7 Notice.pmd >> > > > 303KViewDownload >> > >> > -- >> > Maya S. >> ------------------------------ >> Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! 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