Women in India

September 10, 2008

Today our class session was based on women in India.  We met a panel of women who are each involved with Visthar.  The four women who we met (1 married, 2 single and 1 widow) shared their life experiences with us.  The women on the panel each came from very different circumstances but each play a significant role at Visthar.  We were introduced to the women and they shared their story with us.  One thing that I thought was really interesting about these four women was the variety of life experiences.  These were only four women in a country with millions of female residents.  It makes me wonder about the life experiences of all the women in the country and how each has a unique story to tell.  I wonder how many are masked by what this society expects of them.  Many stories might be silenced by the culture surrounding them.  As a woman, I want to relate to these women, but I really don’t know how to because we are so different.  I have never felt like my life has been hindered because of my sex.  As each woman told her story, I thought about all of the restrictions placed on her life.  Some of the women had more freedom than others but each feels the strain on their life to some extent. 

Some of the older Bandavi girls came to talk to us today.  Each girl has been rescued from a life in slavery as a devadasi.  They talked to us about their lives at Visthar and the things that they like to do.  They all seem like ordinary children but they are not.  Their experiences have made them strong and Visthar has given them a great sense of self-esteem and the opportunity to do great things with their lives.  Each girl has the chance to make a difference in her life.  I wonder what their lives would be like without Visthar.  At Visthar they are given all of the rights and freedoms that children deserve.  The girls seem very happy here.  I have been thinking about their stories.  I have heard some of them and try to put myself in their shoes.  Where would I be?  Could I survive the traumatic experiences?  Girls who are half my age have lived more in their time than I have.  One of the girls told us that she would rather die than go back to the Devadasi lifestyle.  She began to cry.  Those words made my heart drop.  I wanted to go to her and comfort her, but how can I?  How can I relate to this child?  I have no idea what life has been like for her.  After this session with the girls I feel that the service project is a must.  That is the one thing that I can do.