Win and No Win Situation!

It is again that time of the year when parents and students are tensed about the results of the Higher Secondary and Senior Secondary School exams as well as the innumerable entrance exams that the students appear for to gain entry into professional courses. The marks and ranks obtained practically determine the future of the student, unless of course the parents have the capacity to buy management seats. This is also the time when girls reassert their academic supremacy by faring much better than the boys. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education had announced Maharashtra class 12th results. Like in the earlier years, once again girls fared exceptionally well. The passing percentage of girls is 80.48 whereas for Boys it is 73.17. The overall passing percentage of the HSC examination is 76.36%.

It is shocking but not really unexpected to read about an emerging trend in some colleges of Bangalore to hike the cut off marks for girls because they outperform the boys in HSC exams.It is reported that the MES College and National College in Bangalore set the cut-off point for boys at 594 and cut off point for girls at 599.

This is just another manifestation of the societal attitude towards girl's education which makes parents prioritize investments in boy's education over that of the girls. This attitude at one stroke undervalues the achievement of the girls while reinforcing the gender inequities. It is interesting to note that the performance of the girls is trivialized by comments like "girls do not have extra-curricular activities or distractions and only focus on studies and therefore score well in exams". If we take this statement at face value, it raises two questions: why do girls not have opportunities to indulge in extracurricular activities or distractions and why is our education system discriminatory when it comes to promoting sports and outdoor activities for the girls. Not just our schools and colleges even at home girls and boys are not given the same freedom of movement and access to public spaces - parks, play grounds, etc.

Why do we always discount the achievements of women. If a woman succeeds at work place,it is because she uses her charms, if she makes a mark in politics it is because of her family connections and if she does well in studies it is because of
boredom!What about her aspirations, her ambitions and her commitment and hardwork?

It is sad that such attitudes actually make women and girls undervalue their own aspirations and achievements. In a survey conducted by Population First among youth, similar attitudes were expressed. A total of 521 parents and 642 students from all over Mumbai were administered a questionnaire on how they perceive gender roles. However, the attitude that came across was that girl's education or career is secondary to that of the boy's and that her education and career choices should be delimited by thatof her husband's. One fourth of the people interviewed felt that there would be problems in the family if the woman is more educated or earns more than the man. This reflects the unquestioned acceptance of the gender equations at home where men are seen as superior to women. Such attitudes justify and rationalize glass ceilings and should be questioned.

Whose "Dosh" is it anyway!

A few days back my attention was drawn by a friend to a news paper ad on the issue of how the sex of the baby is determined by the X and Y chromosomes. It is common knowledge that a woman who gives birth to a daughter or only daughters is considered "Manhoos" bad luck for the family and is a victim of considerable violence from the family members and snide remarks and sympathy from the community members. We need to change this, we need to communicate to people that sex of the baby is a question of chance and not choice. It is a biological phenomenon where the Y chromosome of a man plays a crucial role in determining the sex of the baby. No amount of prayers, offerings, vrats and visits to holy men can influence it. Violence against the woman is definitely not going to change it.

But what is more important is how do we communicate it to people. The above advertisement and many other communications also say that it is not the "dosh" i.e fault of the woman, as the sex of the baby is determined by the man. Does it mean then that the man is at fault, "doshi"? Are we saying that people should now direct all their anger and frustration against the man. Throw him out of the house, torture him and make him feel inadequate?

More importantly, are we saying that having a daughter IS a "dosh"- a crime, a mistake? What is so criminal about having a daughter?

By using the word "Dosh" in the ad we all are guilty of perpetuating a mindset that looks at daughters as a burden and as a failure. It is the responsibility of all the communication professionals to be conscious of such nuances and work on messages that do not further compound the prejudices.

It is also the responsibility of each one of us, like my friend, to keep our eyes and ears open to such "dosh" in communication and bring it to the notice of the authorities.

At times it may look like we are being too finicky about words. However, remember if we are not conscious of their nuances, we all are at "dosh" for the state of affairs.

COME AND CELEBRATE LAADLI DAY ON 9TH JUNE BY JOINING US AT GATEWAY OF INDIA AT 6 PM, IF YOU ARE IN MUMBAI. YOU CAN ALSO SUPPORT US BY WRITING ON THE ISSUE OF SEX SELECTION OR GIRL CHILD OR MAKING THE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY AND OFFICE FEEL SPECIAL.