Archive for August 21, 2008

Defining India

{ August 21, 2008 @ 4:05 pm } · { India }
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People in Europe can usually not imagine what India is like. Whatever is shown in the media is usually negative (or it wouldn’t be considered newsworthy). Most people believe that India is just a big shithole with no facilities, infrastructure, food, and just a whole lot of starving people. On the other hand they are very aware of call centres and IT firms mushrooming all over the place, in their mind it becomes very hard to reconcile one stereotypical image with the other.

I cannot consider myself to be an expert on India. It would be impossible. But for everyone in my surroundings I do get to play expert sometimes; whenever somebody is curious or hears something in the news, they want my view on it. But it’s not so easy to explain.

To confuse further: Yes India is a shithole. There are still people starving. Lots of them live on the street in filthy conditions and die of diseases that have been eradicated in the west for years/decades/centuries. Brides are still tortured for dowry, widows are still burned to death during their husband’s cremation. Also, there are lots of people who are richer than normal middle class Westeners can imagine. There are lots of people working in call centres, wearing jeans and t shirts, listening to English music and watching Hollywood movies. Only to come home to their husband/wife who was chosen by their parents. There are nicely asphalted high ways with big cars zipping around on them, overtaking 40 year old trucks decorated with colourful floral motives. There are villages without electricity, running water, TV, cellphone coverage. And there are cities with people living on the street, pulling rickshaws for a living while communicating with their friends and family through SMS messaging. There are politicians living in mansions driving a different Merc every day of the week. And middle class families proudly showing off their new Suzuki Alto to the neighbours.

You cannot define India by a single stereotype or idea. You cannot even define it with a full length article. What people do not understand is that there is no one true India. The differences between different cities, states or even neighbourhoods are huge. Even in the same location, the difference between the life of a poor family and wealthy family is unheard of in most western countries.

I can honestly and truthfully say: India is a shithole, a third world country, a place filled with poor people living on the edge of existence. But I do love it; in spite of the bitter expectation in my heart, that there will always be poverty and misery and terrorism and corruption. But there will also always be great beauty and wealth. And I’d love to go back there one day.

Frankly speaking: you should go there for a while. Try to adjust and understand. Maybe it will broaden your horizon a little bit.

Gender stereotypes – Part I

{ August 21, 2008 @ 3:32 pm } · { TV, UK }
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Personally I believe stereotypes are not half as bad as people make them out to be. I believe it was part of growing up for me to realize that people have prejudiced opinions and clichés are usually based on some grain of truth. It was not easy to come to that conclusion, and it took me a few years to realize.

As a teenager I was highly idealistic, wanted the world to be perfect and people to be tolerant and friendly. A stereotype comment could enrage me and provoke an entire lecture about how this sort of thing is exactly what fucks up the world we live in. What a waste of time, that! The world is a horrible place actually. And people, I believe are inherently evil. Those two I have accepted as facts of life, which are not likely to change. Ever.

And my old (teenage) self would have been depressed at that thought. But you only live once so what’s the point of sulking around about how there is so much suffering in the world, and always will be.

Which brings me to the reason which got me thinking about stereotypes. Last night we were watching TV, a show called “Dangerous jobs for girls”. Three British women were sent off to South Africa to do a job 100% practised by men; hunting wild antelopes for meat export. I always find it amusing when women want to prove themselves by any means necessary. One of them made a statement that was so typical and recognisable; I’m sure everyone knows at least a few women like this: “If a man tells me I cannot do something, I will do it and most surely do a much better job than a man ever could!” (or something along those lines). What a feminist outlook in life! Yeah, girl power! *roll eyes*

So over the course of two weeks, they showed these women being trained in the art of shooting, gutting and chopping up wild animals; by a bunch of alpha-male type seasoned hunters who were totally convinced the ladies would run away crying at the first sight of blood.

A true ego battle. In the end, one refused to shoot anything and the other two did alright; they formed a team in their Jeep who were pitched against a team of experienced hunters over one night; Their aim was to shoot as many antelopes as possible during the time they were given. Not surprisingly, after only two weeks of training, they didn’t win. The winners were the professionals who had 10 years of experience. Wow what a shocker…

What made the show so typical and interesting was the drive these women had to prove themselves as equals or superiors to the men. They would not accept defeat. All fine and well, and very feminist indeed. Then in the end, the guy who trained them proclaimed how proud he was of them, that they could manage the work and in just two weeks, almost did as well as the experienced men.

And the women were so pleased to hear that, they were gleaming with pride. When it became so obvious, they didn’t do if for the satisfaction of completing their task. The only reason they wanted to prove their equality was to hear a man say it; “Good girl, you did a great job!”

Honestly, didn’t that just ruin the entire effort? You want to be independent, strong, goal oriented and succeed at whatever you start. But then in the end it turns out you are not independent at all; you’re needy and miserable until a man acknowledges you.. Without that you’re nothing.