Then Why not a Mobile for Her ?
Written on September 2nd, 2009 by AnuragOnce upon a time mobiles were considered to be a status symbol. Soon after they became a necessity – every person had one – people cycling on the road, the dhaba wala, the domestic help – everyone!
- Did it ever occur to any of us that it could still be considered a matter of status symbol in some remote corners- maybe it did
- Did it ever occur to anyone that this again can become a feminist thing to fight for maybe it didn’t!
Actually that is a fact.
In small villages in the south, women aren’t allowed mobiles. Its not the cost involved – the mobile is a status symbol. Only a few men can own it and the woman can occasionally use it.
Why and how a mobile can become more than a communicating tool can only be discovered once you see the usage in these areas. The local villagers use the mobile to communicate . The need came from younger college going youth traveling to cities, being influenced into having the luxury of having one and then the worried parents wanting to keep in touch.
The need also arose from the middlemen who constantly commuted between the small villages to the cities to sell.
The need then gave way to the luxury of talking at home and at will.
But the need never became a necessity to use it beyond the regular wanting to stay in touch or to inform. Women who are considered home makers everywhere regardless still aren’t allowed the luxury of the mobile. There are innumerable plans for women, remunerative scheme to help woman becoming independent and earn of her own – there is no plan or an intention to provide these woman to have a voice and communicate.
If this mobile is an empowering tool and can make a difference in each of the rural homes it can only be made by having the woman to use it.
I am not a feminist but I was actually shocked at the thought why a woman is deprived of such a simple tool
- We have given her a smokeless chulha,
- We have given her health programs to take care of her family,
- We have given her and her children affordable education programs
- Then why not a mobile
Why hasn’t anyone thought that empowering woman with mobiles is actual empowerment. Why hasn’t anyone thought that lets not think that this mobile is just to communicate its to build community support systems, its to enhance our fragile sense of security and most importantly it can be used to learn and share information.
