It’s incredible how two separate pieces of news can trigger a strong reaction. Even worse, how the news is reported. First is the case of Kushboo. Yup, the same star who had temples built to her name in the early 90s. Well, the lady had ideas about premarital sex, and the mob didn’t quite like it. I am not going to comment on her views (I don’t see them as being particularly new/ groundbreaking/ different), but I think she has a right to them, and shouldn’t have to apologize for what she believes. But hypocrisy isn’t new to Tamil Nadu, so I am not overtly surprised.
The other piece of news is this. Well, women won’t be allowed to work night shifts in an industry that well – mostly works at night! It’s interesting to see the media coverage though. The argument in the article is that it will kill an industry, as opposed to discriminating between men and women on the basis of their sex. However, the move will be taken up more forcefully by the industry, and they will attempt to offer a financial analysis (Remember, women come cheap even in organized industries!). Of course, in the longer run, blocking opportunities for 50% of citizens in the country will have a huge economic impact (but let’s not get to that – baby steps – baby steps!).
So tell me, why won’t the article point out the gender discrimination aspect as clearly as the other aspects? And the other thing – Is the solution to *lack of safety* for women on the streets to be resolved by punishing those who get attacked, or those who attack. Aaargh!
Update – The govt. points to the fact that the issue was quite different. (Link tip – Orange Hues)
nehamaami 
She puts the Boo in everyone’s Khush(i).
What’s with this apology business? Oh well, Kate Moss apologized for her coke habit too. Some bow to lucrative endorsements and some to mobs. Same difference.
krishna
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*deep breath*
Finally ! Commenting ! Yay !
Not that I have much to say, just that I can increase my visibility by commenting on such a popular blog 😉
Regular, content related commenting will resume from next post ! 🙂 Please to excoos now.
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I wish she’d had the guts to stand by what she said, or atleast clarify it than apologise…Doesnt sound like she said anything offensive to anyone! I am scared to see the kind of constant moral policing which is springing up everywhere…
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Apu:
Yup I wish something along similar lines. But considering no one (not in MSM media, not in the industry) came to her side to support her – I cannot say that she should have done something different. We each have our thresholds for fighting our respective battles. Sad .
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Hmm freedom of expression, yes one should have it. I just was thinking about the ladies in Saudi- they dont have the freedom to even move around!.
I just read a book by one who escaped from there(none other than Osama’s Sister in Law, Carmen- in her book “Inside the Kingdom”). http://cruiserdeep.blogspot.com/2005/09/hi-all-i-just-read-book-by-osama-bin.html .
I agree to most of what carmen says, but as a person who has been to Saudi on my business trips I have a slightly less shocking picture of what has been said.
When its your culture(And u r not aware of other cultures or any new learnings, generally no inputs from the world’s whichs are censored- for most of Saudians this is the case, especially ladies) you don’t really feel pathetic living in it(ignorance is bliss).
And a foreigner feeling aghast by experiencing this alien culture, and trying to prescribe his or her culture to Saudians, is not very proper. Similar is the case of sub-cultures like where Khusboo drew flak from, who are we to prescribe behaviour codes for them.
The realisation always is best coming from within, not by provocation but by induction.
cheers
Deep
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Maami,
Had to rub my eyes really hard to see if it was indeed true that comments had been enabled. Anyway its nice that we now have a place to express our views. Not that I have much to say on this… wait, how about “I lou Khusboo” 🙂
– J
ps: I paid 10 bucks when they built her a temple in Trichy 😉
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To be quite frank as far as streets being safe for women .3 times more men are mugged , robbed and killed and of course driven to suicide in domestic situation but we have stop caring for them anyways. It is surprising when the crime against women in only 1/3rd of crime against men how come women are more afraid. Is it natural bravery ?
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Bharati:
1. Please state the source of your statistics. They sound suspect as they seem to be coloured by your intentions to somehow link it to natural bravery (sic!)(puke!)
2. I don’t know how frequent you are with studies of crime and accident statistics, but most crimes against women aren’t reported. For more information on Street Harrasment you might want to see the excellent . A month ago The Hindu had an excellent article as well. When you talk of crime – there are two levels. The one of individual experiences (Which may be male/ female), and the chances of being violated (which often depends on the averages and rates).
3. Can you please quote some credible psychological (not your average gas filled women-hating blog) study when you say women are more scared?? Do you have a study to back up this data? Where did you read about men being more brave than women? (Some misogynistic book/ blog?)
4. Are you suggesting that men as well shouldn’t work in call centres at night?
Please refrain from making anti-women comments in this space. They will not be tolerated.
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BTW, to put some clarity on this issue Haryana is NOT stopping women from working night shifts in call centres.
Only TWO companies have been issued notices and they have been the cause of these rumors.
“I was shocked to read this. Mischievous elements in these two companies are circulating such foul canards against the government,” said a fuming Ms Issar.
That’s Romila Issar, state labour and employment secretary, as quoted in Economic Times. Complete Story
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Manu:
Yes, I did catch the updates. However the issue that I was more concerned with was the coverage of the media, and the media’s reasoning of why the govt. shouldn’t take decisions that would potentially harm the industry.
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I understood that. Just thought this update belonged to this post, for those not in the know.
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Just noticed the update (thru the feed). Nice.
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I was just wondering. If….If men began to demand equal rights just like women are doing now these days…..It would be a nightmare for women. lols
Women have just entered the arena of men, of the real world and they are already preparing long list of demands which are not even related to basic human rights. A man living in a slum will never go to human rights commission asking them to recognise his basic rights for living in a posh apartment. That is exactly what women are doing now. I pity these women who are suffering from such pathetic paranoia. lols
Neha vish, You seemed to be gas-filled with moronic attitude and clumsy arrogance. Anyways, women like you don’t even deserve reality.
So, stay in your fool’s paradice.
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