Dear Chris,
    

> You mention that the classes are

> separated by gender; the problem is that they don't

> live in separate societies. Is there any attempt to

> allow the women to demonstrate their new sense of

> power that they have gained from their education?>>


Your question interests me, especially the choice of
phrase, "demonstrate their new sense of power".... and
"... they don't live in separate societies". I'd like
to share my views on this based on my experiences in
South Asia. And I would be curious to understand what
you see as a demonstration of power gained from
literacy.

Separate societies: Having spent time in our projects
in the NWFP of Pakistan, a social structure very
similar to Afghani society, I have learned a lot about
separate societies. For the first time, in market
places, I saw no women. In most agrarian societies,
the informal economy is run by women, whereas in lots
of the NWFP, even market vendors were men. Whilst
driving through some congested areas, I was asked to
cover my face even when sitting in a moving car. One
of the reasons that girls are not allowed to come to
school are because either the teacher is a male or
there are no loos for girls or if girls and boys have
to sit next to one another. Separate societies exist,
and quite happily. It took me a little getting used to
and once I understood the degree to which purdah
worked both ways (e.g. a North American friend of
mine, married to a Pathan man who lives now in
Pakistan apologised for not inviting me to her home as
it would embarass her husband.), it was easier to
accept the separate societies. I also found that this
style of life (and I refuse to call it conservatism
because that would imply that the life I lead is
"liberal" or "free" in a different sense) fascinating,
the politics, the hierarchy, the power wielded by
women and the control they exert from behind their
veil and mud walls.

"Demonstrate the sense of power": In working with
women in South Asia, the sense of power from education
i.e being able to read, write and calculate, is often
a personal one. It is seen as a personal victory, as
if "they were suddenly gifted vision", and "..despite
having wings, being able to fly unafraid for the first
time". I think power manifests itself in subtle ways.
Breaking the house is one way, expanding the house,
another. 

Literacy alone does not equal power, or else why would
we have Mom's taxi, the overworked daughter-in-law in
Indian middle class families, the overworked woman in
middle class families all over the world. What I still
find surprising is that the women's movement across
the world has made strides, but we don't have a
similar movement for men. 

And now, I am rambling!
Ujwala




>    

>   Sorry, if it seems like I am rambling.

>    

>   SIncerely,

>   Chris

>    

>   The common response to the first question (why are

> you in this  

> > class?), from both male and female classes, was --

> to learn  

> > reading, writing and math!  Of course.  But with

> further probing,  

> > the young men said things like - to be able to

> read letters from  

> > relatives in Iran; to read shop signs; to get

> skills to help my  

> > family; to have a better future; to help our

> country develop; to  

> > become doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs,

> carpenters, metal  

> > workers.  Young women said  -- to read and write

> letters to  

> > relatives; to become teachers (most); doctors,

> engineers, shop  

> > keepers (some); to do business in the bazaar; to

> learn everything  

> > we can; to help our families and our community.

> 

>   

> > National Insitute for Literacy

> > Women and Literacy mailing list

> > WomenLiteracy at dev.nifl.gov

> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription

> settings, please go to

> > http://dev.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Insitute for Literacy

> Women and Literacy mailing list

> WomenLiteracy at dev.nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings,

> please go to 

> http://dev.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy

>   

> 

> 

> 		

> ---------------------------------

>  Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just

> $16.99/mo. or less> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Insitute for Literacy

> Women and Literacy mailing list

> WomenLiteracy at dev.nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings,

> please go to 

> http://dev.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/womenliteracy




	
		
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com