The Women of India
Sania Mirza is not the only Indian woman who is making global waves. Arundhati Roy won a booker award for her work The God of Small Things, and has become a renowned critic of the Bush adminsitration. Aishwarya Rai according to Julia Roberts has the most beautiful face in the world. A former Miss Universe she has an interesting persona -- a mix of West and East indicative of India's rapid Westernization even as it makes a distinct mark on the globalization bandwagon.Read about them here: Aishwarya Rai, Arundhati Roy.
56 Comments:
Many Middle Eastern countries believe that Western societies are forcing their culture and attitudes upon the rest of the world. However, when women are unfairly treated and represented and forced to be inferior...i think something has to change. Sania Mirza has the courage to go with the flow of modernization and has the potential to "inspire a whole new generation of girls". If Sania can really be an inspiration, the mere fame and attention to India will help it move away from developing nation status. Sania may be the initiator of a much greater occurrence. Not only will women now attempt to obtain better roles in society, but the stir of it all will hopefully drive the economy.
These women are another case of how globalization is evident in India. Decades ago these women would never have been able to do the things they do because they didnt have the stage on which to do it. It would have been very difficult to have a novel from India make it all over the world. Globalization has brought the english language to India, and brought the technology and know-how to mass produce books the way that they have produced this book. Without globalization there would have been no "Miss World" at all. These women have benefited from globalization, as has the rest of the world by giving these women a stage to showcase their talent.
There are many examples of women dealing with abuse in India and the Middle East so it is comforting to see women doing so well for themselves. With Arundhati Roy, there were no men helping her. It was her mother who started the school and taught her in her early years. The fact that there is a Ms. Universe and a Ms. World and whatnot is a perfect example of the globalization that exists. It shows everyone on an even playing field, rewarding different backgrounds as opposed to criticizing what country a person came from. It's good to see that women from the Middle East can be appreciated in America in different forms of talent whether it be through writing or pageantry.
Jenna Douglass 10.26.05
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Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Raiare both illustrate the fact that globalization is effecting India and more than ever is helping to achieve women’s rights. In the United States we are under the impression that the majority of women in India and other Middle Eastern countries are completely oppressed. We see what is portrayed in the mass media and Fox news causing us to feel remorseful for these women who do not share the basic freedoms which females in the U.S. do. In reading about these two incredibly successful, bright, modern and down to earth women from India it is evident that the beliefs that we hold as Americans can often be inaccurate. With Aishwarya Raiare ranking number one on the list of the most attractive women for 2003 above Nicole Kiddman and Cindy Crawford it shows that the American Barbie doll image of what was once viewed as perfection of beauty is diminishing away as we come to a more global and diverse representation. I think that as both of these women continue to flourish as well as many other females from the Middle East and India it will only help to reduce our biases and judgments that we hold here in the United States.
Nicole Appleman 10/27/05
Nicole, while I understand some of the points you make in your blog, there are some that I have a difference of opinion on. Just because there are a few successful women that you hear about in India (Sania Mirza, Arundhati Roy, and Aishwarya Raiare), does not mean they represent and stand for all of the women in India, because India has the largest population of poor people in the world, and are very well-known for treating their women poorly. So a lot of what you see on the news about India is in fact true. Obviously India is a big country with many parts that are middle-class or wealthy, but there are still millions of people who live below the poverty line and are unemployed. If you saw the presentation on India today you would have heard about all of this. Also, I believe that a ranking on a list as the most beautiful woman in the world is a great accomplishment for that individual person and their ego, in 2003 it was Aishwarya Raiare, but it is not necessarily a demonstration of globalization. People just pick and vote for who they think is pretty, a lot of people who voted probably knew nothing about the women that they were voting for besides the fact they had a pretty face. Also, Nicole Kidman is from Australia, not the United States, so she is not really a good example of an “American Barbie doll image”, which I don’t even really think is what most people consider the perfect image of beauty anymore, and beauty is just peoples’ personal opinions anyways, not an example of globalization.
Anyways, Sania Mirza, Arundhati Roy, and Aishwarya Raiare are all extraordinary talented young women, and I wish them the best…it would be great to continue to see them succeed in the future…I’m sure that you are proud Dr. Khan…Congrats!
Kandis Kovalsky
October27, 2005
Nicole you make excellent points. Yes, While Sania and Rai break stereotypes they are atypical and not representative in many ways. They are more the product of globalization than traditional Indian cultures. Nevertheless the presence of many successful Indian women in many professions suggests that there is a positive change taking place.
What's happening to Arundhati Roy I think says something about India and globalization, and the pull of modernity and traditionalism. Here is this internationally renowned empowered female writer coming up against traditional Indian forces. I also wonder what is more threatening to the traditionalists; the sexuality of Roy's book or the taboo breaking inter-caste relationship? I do not think there is anywhere else in the world where the effects of globalization and tradition are so contrasting. It will be interesting to see how the battle between tradition and modernity develops in India. It is tempting to say that India will follow the West's lead and become a more secular liberal society. But India is very economically and culturally different from the West. In ten years will a case like Roy's still be prosecuted in India? It is hard to say.
How wonderful that these women are making such an impact on not only their country but the world. Not many people have achieved such a goal. Arundnati Roy has written an influential bestselling book. I admire Aishwarya Rai for using her beauty and talent to make a positive influence. Rai has taken the time to be involved in focusing on trying to eliminate corneal blindness and has encouraged eye donations. Not only is she beautiful but she seems to have a genuine care for humanity. She has been ranked in the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004, has appeared on Oprah, a former Miss World and was on the cover of Time Magazine Asia. This not even mentioning her achievements in Bollywood. Both Rai and Roy are amazing young women.
10/28/2005
In response to Kandis Kovalsky and the comments made in response to my blog: I’m not sure why my interpretation warranted such an angry response when I was simply trying to make a positive statement. You’re response gave me the impression that you did not grasp my message. I understand that these two women are simply individual examples out of the entire Indian population. My point was simply that there seems to be a slow move toward modernization from traditionalism in some of the younger Indian population.
Nicole Appleman
10/29/05
Nicole,
Sorry you took my response as an angry one...I didn't really mean it like that, it was just a difference in opinion, sorry if the way I expressed it gave you the wrong impression!
Well, in response to this debate on the status of women in India..am an Indian girl myself and I would start with saying that the picture painted by the Western media is not entirely false. Howver whenever I have met foriegners who are shocked that I can speak English , am educated etc. In the cities, a large number of women are succcessful professionals playing key roles. in villages in Rajasthan however there are hamlets with only two females because the rest have been killed after birth.
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These two women are definitely making a huge statement in India and catching worldwide attention. Whether their contributions to the increasing trends towards globalization are positive or negative has much to do with an individual’s culture and point of view. Due to the simple fact that they are women, has many traditionalist men in India unsure about the new images being portrayed, especially for other Indian women. Aishwarya Rai who was crowned Miss World in 1994-95 is showing other women that embracing your sexuality is beautiful and not something to be ashamed of. Many feel this idea goes against traditional ideology. In a male dominated society, the increasing feminist movement may be seen as a threat to society. Author Arundhati Roy has gotten heavy criticism for descriptions of sex between members of different castes and is even facing charges of obscenity in India. Roy made some interesting points in her commentary saying that there is no need to define questions about India and what it means to be Indian because there is no real answer. She is very much embracing globalization and the fact that world is seeking a smaller platform. I think both these women are pioneers in the globalization movement and are helping to bring India and its people into a new era of influence in the global realm.
-Mike Donahue 10/30
I also believe with most of the people's that this is a clear indication of the effects of Globalization on our world today. THere have been famous female indian writers and famous indian actresses in the past, but they are not well recognized or well-known through out the world as Ashwariya and Roy are because there was a less effect of globalization in the past. Now, people have access to the INTERNET and many other technologies through which we can be aware of what is going on in other nations and countries. A RUSSIa or an American would not have known or read anything about Aishwarya if it wasn't for GLOBALIZATION.
MUSTAFA ZIA OCTOBER 30
I find it very interesting how most of the famous people from India that we hear about in the West are women. It truly shows how globalization reaches everywhere. India is a society in which traditionally, and even today, males dominate. Women like Sania Mirza, Arundhati Roy, Aishwarya Rai, the Gandhi women, and (my favorite Indian author) Jhumpa Lahiri are changing the face of Indian pop culutre and even Indian society.
mitch masucci 10/31
The more I read about other "oppressed" countries and the situation of women here on our own territory I find myself feeling that American women are becoming more oppressed than those of other countries. Due to the feminist movement women are expected to be considered exactly the same as men. It is obvious that there are differences between males and females but yet our society expects us to be blind to these differences. Women are supposed to be able to do it all and yet it is impossible. These women of India who are becoming "modernized" have opportunities that our culture never had, they can learn from our mistakes. It is important that India carefully makes this transition in order to make sure that women are able to thrive instead of being suffocated by their own doings.
On a brief google search I was not able to find whether Arundhati Roy had actually been charged with violating obscenity laws in India or not. There are many charges that individuals in the US could face but many are bogus. How does Roy stand up legally in India while getting international acclaim for her book? If a man had written her book, God of Small Things would a man be under similar Indian legal scrutiny for written obscenity?
-Liz Lycett 10.31.05
As we've been saying, both women are inspirational and ground-breaking and I think they will have a positive impact on India and women everything. While reading Arundhati Roy's interview, I found it interesting that she seems to have certain Western, democratic ideals and also maintains a strong Indian identity. She talks a lot about individualizing herself - she doesn't want to be compared to other Indian writers, simply because she is also Indian, calling this a "lazy" comparison. She also comes across not just as a pioneer for women's rights, but for human rights in general, supporting freedom of speech as a basis for what she wrote in her novel. Individualism and freedom of speech are two very Western, democratic ideals and I think her mention of them exemplifies what we've been saying about globalization. Roy should be praised for her accomplishments, but not simply because she is a woman - but because she is intelligent, extremely talented and driven.
Caitlin Ginley
10.31.05
After reading the articles regarding Arundnati Roy and Aishwarya Rai it is quite clear as previous bloggers have stated, that the women are very influential world wide. These women that we have read about are certainly involved in the globalization that the world is going through. They demonstrate that fighting through persecution and lack of modernization can be a very rewarding life move. These women are extremely impressive and they as stated before are taking their place of importance not just locally but globally
I agree with Caitlan. These women are very talented and shouldn't be held up in a different category simply because they are women, or because they are Indian. However, these ladies are indeed "Indian women," making their accomplishments so much more valuable, in my opinion. If these accomplishments had been made by American women, it would be flash-in-the-pan media coverage and, quite honestly in my opinion, not quite as impressive. While it may be a lazy comparsion, the fact that these women have risen to such global prestige in a male-dominated, very religious society speaks volumes.
mitch masucci 11/1
When I first started to read about Aishwarya Raiare, I thought great, good for her, a step in the right direction for Indian women . . . well, until I heard that she endorsed DeBeers. Debeers mines much of the world's diamonds and is therefore held accountable for its crimes. The horrible atrocities associated with diamond mining and selling are numerous, including fueling civil conflict, displacing native villages, and posing environment hazard risks. Even more interesting is the fact that more than half of the world's diamonds are processed in India where child labor is used for the polishing and cutting of these stupid rocks! Yes, good for you Aishwarya Raiare. She may be an outstanding example of a successful woman from India, but I wish she would use her success in a more profitting way for her country.
http://www.fguide.org/Bulletin/conflictdiamonds.htm
(Ten Reasons Why You Should Never Accept a Diamond Ring from Anyone, Under Any Circumstances, Even If They Really Want to Give You One)
I think an important thing to note about both of these articles, but most specifically the one regarding Aishwarya Rai, is the increasing similarities Americans share with Indians. The pure definition of globalization no doubt can be applied to these cases, but I think that many Americans fail to recognize this fact. We seek to be very individualistic as a nation as well as see ourselves as solitary in a position of superiority and power. In addition, many Americans place all South Eastern Asians into one group with negative connotations associated with September 11. We fail to recognize the development of the area and the aspects that make these people very much like ourselves. I think with people like Aishwarya Rai in the media on a large scale, we may begin to allow ourselves to see such cultures as familiar. Miss World pagents and Bollywood films should ring a bell in our cultural minds, reminding us that we have more in common with these people than we may let ourselve imagine.
Rachael Casey
Similar to the other comments, I believe these two women to be examples of globalization but to a point. Arundhati Roy’s mark on the global literature community is obvious with “people all around the world connecting with this book….” Although it is accepted by a global audience, some, including Sabu Thomas, feel less receptive to the book’s influence. The charges being brought against her for the supposedly obscenity of the book’s ending shows the remaining traditional culture that still remains in India. Although the book’s influence can be viewed as a step towards globalization, it can also be seen, with the case of “the state” vs. Arundhati Roy, as a continuation of traditional values in India. The next globalize Indian individual, Aishwarya Rai, also is an example of India’s growing global influence. But this influence is still weak, especially in mainstream culture. If not for this article, I would not have heard of both of these women or of their accomplishments. India may become more of an influential country globally but its influence is still minimal.
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I actually had a disagreement with the India group's presentation that relates to this article on the blog about the influence of women in India as well. It seemed to me that the group was really stressing that arranged marraiges are the major cause of domestic abuse. They seemed to be saying that if arranged marraiges were banned then domestic abuse would diminish significantly. I may not want an arranged marraige for myself but I completely disagree that they are the root of abuse. There may be a correlation but I don't think that there is a causation.
In the US, romantic love is a cultural value that is greatly stressed, but in most other cultures marraiges are made based on different values. In America 1 in 4 women still experience domestic abuse (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/11425-1.asp). Choosing your partner for yourself does not necessarily mean that he will not be an abuser. If you think about it, our system of meeting potential partners is infinitely more dangerous than arranged marraiges. We internet date or go to bars or clubs to meet people who we no absolutely nothing about and simply assume that they will not harm us. At least in arranged marraiges, the parents have chosen among people who they know and trust.
Furthermore, America has the highest divorce rate in the worldAmerica's high divorce rate is due to a number of reasons which are not all bad (ie. a woman can leave her husband if she is abused which is a good thing) but a lot of marraiges also occur simply due to "irreconcilable differences." Arranged marraiges usually fair a lot better because the people are met in a union with similar goals and values because the parents choose based on their greater experience. Most cultures have ascribed to arranged marraiges for hundreds of years with most marraiges prosperous. Many times these marraiges help one or both partners to escape poverty. Arranged marraiges are also evolving with the times-- it is more common now fore the parents choose a variety of suitors but their child has the ultimate decision about who from among them they will wed.
I believe that the problem in India is less about arranged marraiges and more about the fact that women do not have as many rights as elsewhere in the world. The laws about women's rights are archaic and do not protect the everyday woman. People like Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Raiare are important because they can be catalysts for change but their lives are not the lives of the many poor women who are living in ghetto urban or rural areas. If the government wants to stop abuse then they should not target traditional social practices like arranged marraiges because the people will not respond as readily to lifestyle changes. The government instead should be working to give the average woman the ability to gain better jobs, etc. so that they will not be as devalued and so they will also not have to rely as heavily on a husband financially or socially (and thereby have the ability to escape an abusive marraige). Better support systems should be made so that a woman can escape the abuse and the government needs to stop giving a blind eye to the horrible burnings, etc. which are occcuring. There is nothing inherent about an arranged marraige which devalues women; people's attitudes are devaluing women.
--Kristin Uhlemeyer, 11/2/2005
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It is nice to know that women, such as these are present in a county in which women are ostracized everyday. Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Raiare serve as symbols of women’s rights in India. They have broken through the cultural boundaries in which they have been brought up in. These women also shatter the assumptions many people have of females in India. Arundhati Roy,through her novels, is able to disprove the assumption of male dominance in the country. Independently, these women have entered into the global community and have wreaked the benefits of it.
Kandis, I think that your wrong in response Aishwarya Raiare is not a demonstration of globalization. Raiare and Roy are both demonstrations of Globalization. Without globalization, they wouldn't be recognized as much as they are now. They also wouldn't of pursued there goals to be a model and writing a novel if they didn't have motivation from other cultures.
Arundhati Roy, wrote a very powerful novel, and is now facing charges of obscentity. However, with the effects of globalization and the assistance of her mother, she wrote the novel without revision. The influence of western culture is shown in her writing.. a book of her own thoughts and disregarding the consequences or what negative feedback she would recieve from her own people. I am very proud of her, and from the review of her book, I'm very interested in reading it. Congrats to her.
In response to Love Henry's post...I don't think that you completely understood my post, because I never said that Aishwarya Raiare was not an example of globalization. In response to Nicole's post, I was saying that I did not agree with the fact that just because she ranked on a most beautiful list, does not mean that she is an example of globalization, because I feel that is just certain people voting on their opinions of how someone looks, regardless of who they are or where they come from. I believe that she is an example of globalization in other ways, but that is not what the post I was responding to focused on.
Kandis Kovalsky
November 4, 2005
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Earlier in the blog, I thought it was very interesting to hear befuddled’s response to the status of women in India; it was informative to hear the views of an Indian woman, since Indian women are the subject of our discussion. It is difficult to really know what life is like for a people unless you have been in their shoes. However, I think globalization is increasingly educating the world about what life is like for others across the globe by bringing us information through the Internet, television, movies, books, etc. For example, as an Indian woman and as a human being, Arundhati Roy is able to bring her unique perspective to the world in her book. Though Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Rai may not lead the same kind of life as the typical Indian woman, I think they, along with many other successful, professional women who live in the country, are helping to create a new voice and a new path for Indian women.
Steph Scholl 11/4/05
Women like Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Raiare both exemplify how far a person will and dedication can take them. Women have been traditionally treated unfairly in almost every nation including Western Cultures. This inequality is greater in Eastern Cultures however, including India. Both Roy and Raiare have become internationally known for their profession and in doing this have broken many cultural restraints that are evident in India.
forgot to post date/time with above comment.
arturo castro 11/6/05
1:33pm
I would have to agree with many people's comments about how it is great to see women like Sania Mirza,Arundhati Roy, and Aishwarya Raiare succeeding in their professions not only on a domestic level but on a global level. Globalization has defiantly had an impact. Seeing inspirational and sucessful women role models within our own culture and other cultures makes me want to strive for more in my life. Although these women are rare cases, they still can provide inspiration to many Indian women.
-Laura Coogan 11/6/05 10:15pm
I must agree with everyone else and say that these women are an example of Globalization at its finest; however, I have to say it doesn't surprise me that women in India are doing great things; they had a female prime minister while the US was still immersed in the Civil Rights movement. And even now we are a country whose political systems are dominated by men, and we have never had a female president.
~Sarah Cochran 11/7/05 12:33 am
While I, too, agree that these women have made wonderful advances for women’s rights in India, I am a bit bothered by the media attention given to Aishwarya Rai. When I clicked on the link to her name on the original post, the top of the page read “Aishwarya Rai pics…hotter and sexier than ever” from “Askmen.com”. I found it a bit ironic that I clicked on the link expecting to read about a woman who is changing the face of women’s rights in India, yet before even finding out who she is or what she has achieved, I was immediately encouraged to go rate her “hotness” on a scale of 1 to 10. As the article continued, I noticed that it focused overwhelmingly on her physical appearance as the defining characteristic of her career and stardom. Obviously her influence stretches far beyond that of an icon of beauty, yet I feel that everything about the article undermines her accomplishments as a powerful, inspirational, independent Bollywood actress.
Langley Bowers 11/7
This problem of women's rights is not only prevalent in India, but has been a recurring theme with third world countries attempting to join the global community. All over the world now, we are seeing how the subjection of women to rape and murder is being used to scare, threaten and destroy populations of peoples. A prime example of such terror is currently occurring in the Dakar, where men infected with HIV are being paid to patrol the water wells and rape and hopefully impregnate the women of tribes in order to tighten the governments grip on a place that is hard to govern. These are the types of practices that have been custom for years in parts of the world that now want to be economically superior and post modern. However, without people like Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Raiare, these issues would never have come up or been solved. After all, we have seen the United States commitment to global human rights issues with its financial support of governments who's ruling party subjects its women to conditions worse than the Taliban's view on women. Basically, these issues need to be dealt with at the forefront of negotiations, before money, diplomacy or good will is wasted on people who keep half of their population in degradation. That should be the guiding hand of globalization on this issue. Let an American feminist do the first round of negations between affairs and see how much the other country will bend to give to keep it's precious money.
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Ms. Roys' comments on the fact that she should be fighting the obscenity charges instead of going to book signings shows how much of a well grounded woman she is. She realizes that the important thing for the developement of literature and maybe even the status of women in her home country, is to fight the issue, not spread her name or book to its maximum popularity.
Also, Ms. Raiare is a perfect example of the world affecting India and India affecting the world. She has endorsements with some of the worlds largest, and most globalized companies, such as Coca-Cola.
Sean Guidera, posted 11-8
I agree with Langley in that Aishwarya Rai's accomplishments have been undermined. However, the portrayl of Rai as a mere beauty icon is the direct result of her entrapment in the wave of globalization. She is not the only woman who upon becoming noticed for a spectacular achievement soon becomes known only by her physical appearance. In the Time article it mentions that, "Her hope, she says, is to lead an Indian invasion, to 'catalyze' Bollywood's crossover to the West." The unfortunate consequence of this invasion is an altered depiction of Rai's purpose. As for Arundhati Roy, she continues to make waves with her writing regardless of the charges she faces for obscenities. Especially in a culture, such as India's, the fact that she has the audacity to continue is ground-breaking...worthy of a potential movement for women's rights.
I agree with the previous entries that Aishwarya Rai and Sania Mizra have made significant advances for woman in India. People can look up to them and see them making significant advances for woman which instills hope and faith that young women in India also reach the same level of these famous people. However I feel that the only people that can relate to these models are people from city areas who are exposed to globalization and the city life. What about the millions of women who live in small villages and towns where they may know about Aishwarya Rai and Sania Mizrza, but realistically they know and think that they can never be like them. More progress need to me made for these women. They need to realize that they can transgress their traditional village life and get educated and move into the work force rather than being a housewife their entire life. The woman from these small villages should have a role model whom they can more easily relate to such as Arundhati Roy. Only when they see people who grew up in poor villages who get educated and move out to high paying jobs will the majority of Indian woman gain rights. Until then you will always have women who are being raped, burned etc. Women from the poor suburbs and villages should realize that they can also move beyond the traditional roles that have been instilled in them and achieve success in life.
Arvind Sabesan 12:30 11/09/2005
While reading the interview of Arundhati Roy I was very impressed with her. The fact that she has risen to the level o success that she has in a male dominated society shows a great deal of courage and determination on her part. I believe that she is a good example of globalization and she is breaking the stereotype that some people have of Indian women. She is not afraid to speak out and defend her words and she does not feel that anyone should have the right to censor her words. Her saying that she should be fighting the obscenity charges brought on her instead of being on a book tour really shows her commitment to improving things in her country. It is important that Arundhati Roy and other women and men in India continue to make strides towards a society that treats women and men the same.
kevin burke
nov 10
Women are an important factor in every culture. There is no doubt discrimination occurs in every part of this world, however the mistreatment, abuse and cruelty displayed towards women in many middle eastern countries I don't believe should be tolerated. This being said, I believe it takes the strength and courage of people like Sania Mirza to help move countries like India away from their traditional views and help them propser in a more modern global community. I don't believe it is the job of western countries to enforce their beliefs and ways on other cultures, however I think it is important for people of every culture to see how other societies work and function. This allows individuals like Sania to see the positives and negatives within their own nations and help change the negative ones. It is important to support people like Sania in her efforts in doing so, because in the long run it will most definitely have positive affects on the nation as a whole.
Globalization is effecting India very much right now. The idea of Bollywood comes directly from the Hollywood. Indian films are very inspirational for the countries young population because it proves that not all of the talented people happen to be from rich westernized nations. I have not seen many foreign films however i have seen two Indian films and I know about Bollywood. I think that this will inspire young people in this booming economic country to modernize and become more like the western world.
Globalization is effecting India very much right now. The idea of Bollywood comes directly from the Hollywood. Indian films are very inspirational for the countries young population because it proves that not all of the talented people happen to be from rich westernized nations. I have not seen many foreign films however i have seen two Indian films and I know about Bollywood. I think that this will inspire young people in this booming economic country to modernize and become more like the western world.
Megan O'Toole 15/11/05
I commend any woman who makes a difference in her country. It is inspiring the opportunities that Arundhati Roy has taken advantage of. We should be proud of her accomplishments in writing, not just because she criticizes our administration. It is very easy to disagree with another countries foreign policies, because you arent living through the difficulties that we face living in America, that are specific to us. Surely i understand that India is facing many problems as well, but far be it from me to gain popularity because i criticize their governent. I think its wonderful she writing books and becoming famous for them, and its great that Aishwarya Raiare is so beautiful. These women help to continue putting India on the map as a quickly developing world. I just think they should be known for their accomplishments, and not just lipservice.
I agree with Lauren's statement about the fact that these women should be admired for their ability and willingness to show the world the changes women can make and the importance of women's rights. While we live in a critical world, with every nation having a problem with the way another countries run their nations, it is important, especially in a country like India, to realize the importance of the idea that women are making a difference, not sepcifically what they dislike or like about other countries.
Let alone the depiction fo inter-cast sexual relationships, the simple fact that a woman such as Arundhati Roy can write a novel voicing her experiences with, and oppinions on maxist processions and other socially sesitive subjects proves the effect that globalization has had on India. These changes are now not only being seen economically, but also socially and idealistically. Although it seems that some people, such as the man who has filed criminal charges against Roy for speaking of inter-cast relationships, are fearful of such changes, I believe that globally publicising these issues are ways of better furthering western idealism into the east. And by Roy making this initial move to expose inter-cast relationships, with further westernization, such relationships will become widely accepted.
In the case of Aishwarya Rai I am perplexed. How is it that "Bollywood" is admired and applauded for exploiting Aishwarya Rai for her physical beauty, but then when Arundhati Roy writes three-pages of inter-cast relational freedom, she is called an ugly criminal? I believe it is insanely ironic that one woman is claimed to be "beautiful" by her country for flaunting her body, while another is claimed a "criminal" for flaunting her idealistic freedom. I believe the definition of "beauty" needs to be closely examined by those who set moral values, and moral standards in India.
It is extrememly comforting to see these women finally stand up for themselves. With Sania Mirza and these women all gaining publicity relatively at the same time, I am sure the entire nation was shocked at the courage, confidence and gall of these women. People who gained this publicity in that state of a nation as women were few and far between. However, with these women taking the stage in the national spotlight, it could make way for some interesting amendments and changes in the country. I wish these women great luck and courage.
It is extrememly comforting to see these women finally stand up for themselves. With Sania Mirza and these women all gaining publicity relatively at the same time, I am sure the entire nation was shocked at the courage, confidence and gall of these women. People who gained this publicity in that state of a nation as women were few and far between. However, with these women taking the stage in the national spotlight, it could make way for some interesting amendments and changes in the country. I wish these women great luck and courage.
I agree with Cory that it is comforting that women are finally able to stand up for themselves in India. Because of globalization, India's economy is rapidly growing and is currently the fourth largest in the world. Even though India is benefiting from economic success, there were still parts of society that had not improved. However, providing equality and more opportunities for women proves that India is really starting to become a fully developed country
I found Arundhati Roy’s definition of India, or more like lack there of, very interesting. She has very strong views about the world we live in and the world she is involved in as a writer. Throughout her interview she exudes confidence and strength. She appears to be very opinionated and passionate about her beliefs. I think that it is encouraging for Indian women to see a fellow Indian woman proud to express her opinions and not willing to back down. She will not be defined by others and is proud of her accomplishments and background. In a society which hinders women so much, she is not afraid to be herself, regardless of obscenity charges or negative judgment of others about her writing. Her writing may be morally questionable to those from her native country, however her strength and courage make her a model for Indian women to speak out against their repression. Arundhati Roy can be viewed as an inspiration not only to Indian women but women worldwide.
Elizabeth Sullo
12/5/05
I am always proud to hear of succesful and dominating women regardless of where they are from. I love to hear about women and people in general who think and challenge and succeed in spite of obstacles. Both Arundhati Roy and Aishwarya Rai are both remarkable women who have shown that their can be a balance between intellgence and beauty . Both women are well educated, extremely talented, and world-renowed, but have not forgotten or abandoned thier roots. They have seemingly fused thier native experiences with the influence of the global world and come out of it all a successful and well rounded. ven thoough these women face some scrutiny from India in regards to thier modern views and approaches, it is clear that the influence and power of these women will not flater and will provide inspiration to women around the world. It is also nice to see women from countries that are traditionally thought to be opressive as being independent and in charge of thier own destinies. It provides a strong counter to the worlds general view of women in other nations. I know I myslef have been shocked to watch movies by Indian writers, directers, and producers and to seee the role of women to be very different from what we are shown in the western world. What I have seen is one of much more freedom and power than initially believed.
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