Yesterday we were at the Jansen School of Business in our beautiful salwar kameez outfits. Many pictures were taken. Met with a male graduate who’s now an entrepreneur and a female student in her first year. They were both fun to talk to. His factory produces for Roca Wear. I feel like a bit of a fraud when we are supposed to discuss business and I really don’t know the first thing about it. But there’s always something to talk about and learn, especially in these settings when both sides are eager to please and enjoy. I don’t think I have time now to go into all the details from my notes, but we talked about gender and family structure mostly. Lunch was delicious, including fresh pineapple, papaya, some type of orange and watermelon juice!
Next we had a tour of a textile factory, a high privilege not offered to many. Next we drove in lots of exciting traffic to a bizarre. It was kind of seedy, like similar fairs in the US. One salesman was rather aggressive squeezing bangles over my hand. I don’t anticipate taking them off. We had dinner at a fancy hotel with a grand lobby and large buffet. I didn’t feel like eating, so I just had desserts. Again I was extremely tired. I’m so grateful that I haven’t been sick at all. We came back to the hotel wiped out and it was so nice to find another gift waiting for us, beautiful shawls.
Today is Friday and we’re being treated like celebrities at the GIM school. I feel weird being in the computer lab when the students toiled for a week preparing for our visit and we’re not being with them right now. They welcomed us with fireworks, a parade, coconut water (in coconuts), dressed us in saris complete with accessories, ceremonies, performances, presentations, served tea and cookies while we watched, took videos and a million photos, games, lunch, even a cow! Holy cow. Lots to take in.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Zelina POst 4
Sorry for not making sense in my last blog. I was kind of medicated.lol But the last two days was amazing. Today we had sarees put on. and yesterday we got to have a discussion with the students that i found to be very interesting. The students asked me questions about the government in america and alot of financial questions like how do you get a loan and etc. I found interesting when i was having a converstaion with two students one male and one female that the male student would not allow to let the female student to speak and would cut her off quite a few. It was very aggrivating, because he asked a lot of qustions and would not take the time to let me answer, so i told him that he needed to let me finish. After we all left I stayed back with the female student and asked her if that happens a lot and she said that the country is very masculine and that it happens alot but she is ok with it. I found it very hard to deal with, becuase she and I were not allowed to express ourselves. But it was an amazing conversation one of the most. Also I loved the Jensens school it was very very beautiful aand the students were more knowledgable about the u.s. and was not very conservative in their learning. I also loved the experience of going to shanti's house it was very nice and the food was amazing and her house was interesting not much in it.
Melanie - GIM
Today we arrived at GIM and had the most beautiful/ embarrassing arrival possible. We pulled onto the campus and there was a group of men with various instruments from hand drums to who knows what, and off in the distance there were small fireworks going off. Further down the road the women off the college were lined up on both sides, we started walking down the path following the men with the instruments. As we passed the women they then joined in the procession and as we got to the top of the road the men from the college lined the road. We were greeted by almost the entire college; it was just so moving that they all wanted to be here to meet us. I say it was embarrassing only because I am not used to such lavish displays such as this one was. As we entered the building we were greeted with lays made out of jasmine and sent to a reception where we were given giant coconuts that had been drilled to fit the straws, this was quite the experience. I had tried coconut milk before but the coconuts here look so different and are so much larger than the ones that I have gotten in the states.
The next thing that happened was that we were sent to the women’s quarters where we each were paired up with a student, it was sari time, and I was so excited and hoped that I wasn’t going to have the same sizing problem as yesterday. I shouldn’t have hoped so highly because; surprise surprise there was a problem. The sari is made up of three different parts, a cropped top, a skirt and the long piece of fabric. The skirt fit perfectly as did the pants yesterday and of course the long piece of fabric was fine because well it is a really long piece. But the top, it didn’t fit so well, our host here was fabulous and came to check on me before I even knew that a problem was going to arise and had me try it on, it was too small so she took it to let out the seems and gave me and gave me as much extra fabric as possible, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough. So we had to make ado and luckily the shirt I had made here was gray and black stripped so it didn’t clash too badly for my taste with the yellow that I was wearing. Ha the next issue came when we tried to put the bangles on, first attempt not so much second attempt with soap and water not so much so we gave up. Third issue was with a necklace that we were given was too small and so it was pretty much like a chocker, I didn’t want to be insulting after all the other issues I had so I wore it for the time being but then took it off. Oh and the hair, these of course are all small issues but my girl tried to brush my hair to put it back and well since I have curly hair it would have turned into a large afro. I mean some of the women have curly hair here and they defiantly brush it because some of them their hair is really bushy, but their hair is longer and mine is shorter.
The next thing that happened was that we were sent to the women’s quarters where we each were paired up with a student, it was sari time, and I was so excited and hoped that I wasn’t going to have the same sizing problem as yesterday. I shouldn’t have hoped so highly because; surprise surprise there was a problem. The sari is made up of three different parts, a cropped top, a skirt and the long piece of fabric. The skirt fit perfectly as did the pants yesterday and of course the long piece of fabric was fine because well it is a really long piece. But the top, it didn’t fit so well, our host here was fabulous and came to check on me before I even knew that a problem was going to arise and had me try it on, it was too small so she took it to let out the seems and gave me and gave me as much extra fabric as possible, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough. So we had to make ado and luckily the shirt I had made here was gray and black stripped so it didn’t clash too badly for my taste with the yellow that I was wearing. Ha the next issue came when we tried to put the bangles on, first attempt not so much second attempt with soap and water not so much so we gave up. Third issue was with a necklace that we were given was too small and so it was pretty much like a chocker, I didn’t want to be insulting after all the other issues I had so I wore it for the time being but then took it off. Oh and the hair, these of course are all small issues but my girl tried to brush my hair to put it back and well since I have curly hair it would have turned into a large afro. I mean some of the women have curly hair here and they defiantly brush it because some of them their hair is really bushy, but their hair is longer and mine is shorter.
Claudia #4
Men and women in India think men and women are equal. However I have noticed that women and men are often separated. My hypothesis is that the philosophy is separate but equal. The problem with separate but equal is making sure that it is equal. Men seem to think that they can do things that women can do not as well, however they also believe that there are some things women can do better then men. Does that count as equality? Is that accepting a difference and utilizing each person to their full potential, and is there anything wrong with that? I want to learn more about this. The problem with that is that this is their way of life. So why would they feel it interesting or relevant to tell me about it. There is no reason they should think it is that different. The other problem is that as a kind of new concept for me I am not sure what to ask, or how to ask it.
Another problem I have come across is finding out the difference. There are things that I would not have thought would be interesting but they have come up only to learn that things are very different in India. Similarly I have asked things that I thought would be different and their answer is similar to how things are done in the US. Without knowing what I don’t know, how do I know how to ask it.
Another problem I have come across is finding out the difference. There are things that I would not have thought would be interesting but they have come up only to learn that things are very different in India. Similarly I have asked things that I thought would be different and their answer is similar to how things are done in the US. Without knowing what I don’t know, how do I know how to ask it.
Winnie Huie #4
Today we got to wear saree! It was an amazing experience putting it on. The girls that at the GIM school or Guruvayurappan institute helped us put it on, they were very attentive. I never realized how much work and effort it took to put it on. I can’t believe these girls put this on when ever there is a special occasion. While in America we just put on a nice dress or out fit, the girls here wrap themselves in these. It is like a person in a origami After getting change we went to the cultural workshop where we watched girls put on a performance about Indian marriage. I never realized how much the culture has progressed, and looking at the presenters, this practice is very practical for them even though it may not interest us. This is their way of building leaders and it works. Being a mother, wife, and worker is very empowering for them. They are proud they are playing all these parts and see no hardship. Everything was well played out, though I was very overwhelmed with the information and hospitality from the students and faculty. It was really exciting to watch other cultural practices and I can’t wait to see more.
Wei Wong - #4
Today we’re visiting the GIM (Guruvayurappan Institute of Management), about an hour away from Coimbatore and from the City Tower hotel. We now have a tour bus (like the ones you see taking people around in the States), which is infinitely more comfortable than the buses/taxis we’ve had. Prof. Gupta has been so accommodating and helpful, and the times that I hear him negotiating to make things more comfortable for us reminds me of what a great professor he is.
After being put into the salwar kameez yesterday, I have a newfound respect for all the Indian women wearing sarees. When we first arrived at GIM, they played drums and had a welcoming ceremony just for us, and gave us a welcoming drink of coconut juice (out of an Indian coconut, no less). Then we were split up into different groups of two or three students and led to the women’s hostel to be dressed into sarees. I was the first to be dressed into a saree, and I was so surprised at how long it took to dress! I was so glad to be pinned up, and when we came together as a group, it was like looking at caterpillars becoming butterflies (since all of us were in different colors). The students also put on some temporary henna tattoos on our arms (so glittery) and then they gave us a cultural performance and told the history of women in Tamil Nadu (and in India).
Following the performances was an incense ceremony to the gods celebrating Pongol, and since they worship cows, we got to feed the cow. That was pretty amusing, as was watching some of the girls play a game similar to our piñata game. I’m still so amazed at all the hospitality that these people are offering us; we’re the first international visitors to the campus (in the world, no less), and they’ve catered to our every need. Everywhere we’ve gone in India I’ve experienced this, and I have a feeling that I’ll be bringing this back to the States with me.
Tomorrow we’re going to Cheruthuruthy in Kerala, to stay at a river retreat and relax (somewhat). I can’t wait!
After being put into the salwar kameez yesterday, I have a newfound respect for all the Indian women wearing sarees. When we first arrived at GIM, they played drums and had a welcoming ceremony just for us, and gave us a welcoming drink of coconut juice (out of an Indian coconut, no less). Then we were split up into different groups of two or three students and led to the women’s hostel to be dressed into sarees. I was the first to be dressed into a saree, and I was so surprised at how long it took to dress! I was so glad to be pinned up, and when we came together as a group, it was like looking at caterpillars becoming butterflies (since all of us were in different colors). The students also put on some temporary henna tattoos on our arms (so glittery) and then they gave us a cultural performance and told the history of women in Tamil Nadu (and in India).
Following the performances was an incense ceremony to the gods celebrating Pongol, and since they worship cows, we got to feed the cow. That was pretty amusing, as was watching some of the girls play a game similar to our piñata game. I’m still so amazed at all the hospitality that these people are offering us; we’re the first international visitors to the campus (in the world, no less), and they’ve catered to our every need. Everywhere we’ve gone in India I’ve experienced this, and I have a feeling that I’ll be bringing this back to the States with me.
Tomorrow we’re going to Cheruthuruthy in Kerala, to stay at a river retreat and relax (somewhat). I can’t wait!
Kimberly Le Post # 4
Yesterday was very tiring, especially because we had to wear this traditional outfits all day in the scorching heat, even though we were only outside for a short while. Personally, i'm just not used to being outside in the sun with no beach around, so that took a little bit of getting used to.
We visited a textile company, one of the largest in India. We sat down at the meeting room where the executives of the company came and gave us a presentation into what it is they do. Surprisingly, the people were regarded by the top dog as the his top officers, all men, no woman. Funny that we were there representing an all woman's college, but in being there and actually being able to ask questions, I learned from a man's.. let me rephrase, from the men's point of view what role woman actual play. Overall, to the men in India, women are mothers. They are more family and relationship oriented.
Today started off extraordinary! I realized I lost weight and so for breakfast, I dogged down 4 slices of toast and a bowl of cereal. We then took a luxurious bus trip up to another college where i believe we as guest were treating the best. I swaer it felt like royalty and all the treatment came directly from the people's hearts and it was very touching. From the moment we stepped out the bus, fireworks shot off and there was drums and music playing and students lined up, all the way to the auditorium that was built the evening prior, where 90% of the students put on a fabulous presentation for us. It was a lecture, a play, a mime show, a fashion show, and much much more, all crammed in one. It was amazing and I could not have felt any more welcomed. I love India, this country has captured my heart.
We visited a textile company, one of the largest in India. We sat down at the meeting room where the executives of the company came and gave us a presentation into what it is they do. Surprisingly, the people were regarded by the top dog as the his top officers, all men, no woman. Funny that we were there representing an all woman's college, but in being there and actually being able to ask questions, I learned from a man's.. let me rephrase, from the men's point of view what role woman actual play. Overall, to the men in India, women are mothers. They are more family and relationship oriented.
Today started off extraordinary! I realized I lost weight and so for breakfast, I dogged down 4 slices of toast and a bowl of cereal. We then took a luxurious bus trip up to another college where i believe we as guest were treating the best. I swaer it felt like royalty and all the treatment came directly from the people's hearts and it was very touching. From the moment we stepped out the bus, fireworks shot off and there was drums and music playing and students lined up, all the way to the auditorium that was built the evening prior, where 90% of the students put on a fabulous presentation for us. It was a lecture, a play, a mime show, a fashion show, and much much more, all crammed in one. It was amazing and I could not have felt any more welcomed. I love India, this country has captured my heart.
Catalina Rojo
Hey, this time I remembered to put my name in the title! haha. I have had an amazing time, even after my little incident yesterday, I am now up and running as smooth as ever! Today we were fitted for saris. It was very exciting to see how they fold and fashion the long 6 meter piece of cloth to your body. We were all separated to fit our saris, and a few of the students helped us put them on. The saris we received were all stiffly starched and it is hard to keep a fold in them. I have no idea how they are able to fold and wrap the cloth to make it look so good on themselves. We each got different colors and different patterns, mine is green with red trim. It is very pretty, but not really my style.
The toughest thing I have noticed about wearing the sari is making it look good all the time. The folds come undone, the skirt slips, and the blouse rides up. I am constantly adjusting and pulling on everything, trying to make it look as good as the girls here. I think it also has to do with the quality of fabric we have as opposed to the quality of the saris the girls wear on a daily basis. I have no idea how they can handle the heat and the humidity caused by the sari, I feel like I am sweating bullets.
Another problem the sari presents is going to the bathroom, a task not easily done. I feel like I am back in ancient times, squating over the hole in the floor they call the toliet and hiking up my skirts and pleats and underskirts trying to not get them wet. It is quite an experience, and I have enjoyed learning about this unique part of their culture.
The toughest thing I have noticed about wearing the sari is making it look good all the time. The folds come undone, the skirt slips, and the blouse rides up. I am constantly adjusting and pulling on everything, trying to make it look as good as the girls here. I think it also has to do with the quality of fabric we have as opposed to the quality of the saris the girls wear on a daily basis. I have no idea how they can handle the heat and the humidity caused by the sari, I feel like I am sweating bullets.
Another problem the sari presents is going to the bathroom, a task not easily done. I feel like I am back in ancient times, squating over the hole in the floor they call the toliet and hiking up my skirts and pleats and underskirts trying to not get them wet. It is quite an experience, and I have enjoyed learning about this unique part of their culture.
Courtney Williams Post 4
Yesterday we had a really unique opportunity in Coimbatore, we visited one of the factories that produces cotton fabrics for several companies, including a few in the US, like Hanes and Wal-Mart. Apparently it’s one of the best factories in the area, and it’s run by the same company that runs Chennai Silks, one of the largest saree producers. They are the company that’s produced the worlds most expensive silk saree.
They had a lot of the certifications we would look for in a business, such as ISO, and they produced a lot of organic, and naturally dyed yarns and fabrics. They even generate some of their power with wind turbines.
It was amazing to be allowed into this factory, because, as any journalist will tell you, it’s not too often places like these let outsiders, especially foreigners, in to view the manufacturing process. But we were welcomed with more than hospitable arms, we first went into their executive boardroom and viewed a presentation on the company, and then talked with the current CEO and President (managing director) as well as his son and his father (heir and predecessor) about the roles of women in business, environmental issues, and international policy. It got a little tense, because issues involving womens roles in their business were pushed, but they remained courteous and tried to answer our questions as politely as possible.
After the discussion we toured the facility. We saw the president’s office, the sales and customer service departments, fabric testing area, cutting area, assembly area, raw cotton storage, cotton processing, cleaning, and spinning sections. The factory wasn’t at all what you picture when you imagine a clothes manufacturer in India. The ceilings were high, and all the buildings were warehouse like and well lit. The youngest girls there looked young to me, but they had all finished with their primary education, and were at least 15. There were visible safety precautions, and many employees wore dust masks to protect their t\lungs from the cotton dust. The workers all lived and ate for free in hostels on the grounds of the plant, and received yearly bonuses, as well as a large bonus after they’ve been working there for three years, which is enough money for them to get married (which to an American, sounds very assuming and almost condescending, but here it’s looked upon as more than generous.)
Unfortunately our blogging time is almost up, so I’m left without any great insightful conclusion (in contrast to Jen) and pages upon pages left that I wanted to type.
They had a lot of the certifications we would look for in a business, such as ISO, and they produced a lot of organic, and naturally dyed yarns and fabrics. They even generate some of their power with wind turbines.
It was amazing to be allowed into this factory, because, as any journalist will tell you, it’s not too often places like these let outsiders, especially foreigners, in to view the manufacturing process. But we were welcomed with more than hospitable arms, we first went into their executive boardroom and viewed a presentation on the company, and then talked with the current CEO and President (managing director) as well as his son and his father (heir and predecessor) about the roles of women in business, environmental issues, and international policy. It got a little tense, because issues involving womens roles in their business were pushed, but they remained courteous and tried to answer our questions as politely as possible.
After the discussion we toured the facility. We saw the president’s office, the sales and customer service departments, fabric testing area, cutting area, assembly area, raw cotton storage, cotton processing, cleaning, and spinning sections. The factory wasn’t at all what you picture when you imagine a clothes manufacturer in India. The ceilings were high, and all the buildings were warehouse like and well lit. The youngest girls there looked young to me, but they had all finished with their primary education, and were at least 15. There were visible safety precautions, and many employees wore dust masks to protect their t\lungs from the cotton dust. The workers all lived and ate for free in hostels on the grounds of the plant, and received yearly bonuses, as well as a large bonus after they’ve been working there for three years, which is enough money for them to get married (which to an American, sounds very assuming and almost condescending, but here it’s looked upon as more than generous.)
Unfortunately our blogging time is almost up, so I’m left without any great insightful conclusion (in contrast to Jen) and pages upon pages left that I wanted to type.
Jessica post number 3
Greetings, blogland!
We have had an amazing day at GIM--and it is not over yet. I'm sure everyone else has blogged about this, but when we arrived here this morning, the entire school came out to greet us and they gave us flowers, played drums, and shot off fire crackers just to welcome us. They also dressed us in saris, put on a show, let us participate in a cultural celebration, and let us play a traditional game that is kind of like a pinata, only you try to hit a pot full of water.
I shared an observation with everyone on the bus this morning, and I think it is worth mentioning again: When we went to the professor's house the other night, I was shocked to see that her family had so few possessions. To an American, the house seemed to be empty. Today, when I went into the students' dorms, the rooms were nearly empty as well. It is interesting to see the cultural differences in attitudes towards accumulation of material possessions; in America, people are both pressured to constantly consume and there is a social belief that always having more is the ideal. In India, however, people are happy with what they have, and even well-off families are not pressured to consume in the way Americans are. As Professor Gupta mentioned to us earlier today, surveys in India have indicated that most of the top CEOs live incredibly frugally.
Along those lines, shopping is not considered a passtime here as it is in America. People do not go shopping when they are bored or as a social activity. I think I like that attitude better. I have too much clutter as it is.
I think we're out of time. On to the next activity!
We have had an amazing day at GIM--and it is not over yet. I'm sure everyone else has blogged about this, but when we arrived here this morning, the entire school came out to greet us and they gave us flowers, played drums, and shot off fire crackers just to welcome us. They also dressed us in saris, put on a show, let us participate in a cultural celebration, and let us play a traditional game that is kind of like a pinata, only you try to hit a pot full of water.
I shared an observation with everyone on the bus this morning, and I think it is worth mentioning again: When we went to the professor's house the other night, I was shocked to see that her family had so few possessions. To an American, the house seemed to be empty. Today, when I went into the students' dorms, the rooms were nearly empty as well. It is interesting to see the cultural differences in attitudes towards accumulation of material possessions; in America, people are both pressured to constantly consume and there is a social belief that always having more is the ideal. In India, however, people are happy with what they have, and even well-off families are not pressured to consume in the way Americans are. As Professor Gupta mentioned to us earlier today, surveys in India have indicated that most of the top CEOs live incredibly frugally.
Along those lines, shopping is not considered a passtime here as it is in America. People do not go shopping when they are bored or as a social activity. I think I like that attitude better. I have too much clutter as it is.
I think we're out of time. On to the next activity!
Anne M. post #4
Last night was so much fun. After a lovely day touring the Jenson Campus and meeting with students and businessmen, and visiting a textile factory-which made the most expensive sari in the world, $100,000!-we went out to a carnival. The front was built up like a little palace and light with white lights; very beautiful. I walked around mostly with my fellow student Kim, and we toured all the little stands. It reminded me a lot of all the flea markets at home: bargaining,people shouting prices at you, and others trying to pull you into the shops. It was great fun. Afterwards we went on a small carnival ride with one of the Indian students.
Today was incredible. After being sick and all, today was just so much fun. We left our hotel in Coimbatore this morning to arrive in GIM University. WE did not find out until the bus was pulling up to the University that we were the first americans to visit. I was surprised-and then shocked and delighted with the reception. We were met with a small band of sorts, who played on traditional looking Indian instruments. The female students were lined up along the road as the band led us past them. We were greeted at teh door with strings of lavender placed around our necks, and then we were led to the womens hostel. There we recieved our saris, and with a lot of help from the indian students, we put them on. Afterwards we were led to a main hall, where they had laid out a beautiful flower carpet in a design on the floor, and we were entained with traditional dances and a small lesson of indian culture. Afterwards we attended a small ceromony- I'm not quite sure what it was, but it had to do with the cow. It was very fascinating. Afterward we played a gmae similar to pinata, except with a jug and flowers. I wish I could elaborate more, but we have to move on soon. Till next post!
Today was incredible. After being sick and all, today was just so much fun. We left our hotel in Coimbatore this morning to arrive in GIM University. WE did not find out until the bus was pulling up to the University that we were the first americans to visit. I was surprised-and then shocked and delighted with the reception. We were met with a small band of sorts, who played on traditional looking Indian instruments. The female students were lined up along the road as the band led us past them. We were greeted at teh door with strings of lavender placed around our necks, and then we were led to the womens hostel. There we recieved our saris, and with a lot of help from the indian students, we put them on. Afterwards we were led to a main hall, where they had laid out a beautiful flower carpet in a design on the floor, and we were entained with traditional dances and a small lesson of indian culture. Afterwards we attended a small ceromony- I'm not quite sure what it was, but it had to do with the cow. It was very fascinating. Afterward we played a gmae similar to pinata, except with a jug and flowers. I wish I could elaborate more, but we have to move on soon. Till next post!
Steph K. Jan. 11
The past two days have been amazing. Yesterday after our post, we had an awesome seminar in which we were paired up with a student and a local entrepreneur so we could do a 1 on 1 interview and ask the questions we wanted. My enrepreneur seemed extremely down to earth -- a very modern Indian woman. She owns a decorative glass hardware company jointly with her husband. She also has a 12 year old daughter, so she understands the difficulties of parenthood while maintaining a personal business. She told me that she and her husband share decision making, but they assume different responsibilities in their business. He does the marketing while she does the finance and administrative work. I asked if he prefers to work with clients because he is the male and thinks because of that he should, but she said it is strictly based on the fact that he has more of a extroverted, type A personality, while she personally has always preferred to stay behind the scenes.
She and her husband had an arranged marriage. I asked if she believes that all arranged couples in India work so well together -- as she is suited for the behind the scenes work while he is the extroverted marketer -- and she said a lot of the time that is the case. That is why arranged marriage is so widely accepted in India -- because it works. Parents have the insight and wisdom to pick someone they know will best suit their child. Believe it or not, some of us are envious of this practice. It saves us the trouble of doing it ourselves, and it makes Indian women more accepting of their surroundings and more adaptable. That is a major difference I see in our two cultures. Americans tend to want to adapt our surroundings, while Indian women prefer to adapt themselves. Who is to say that either is better?
She and her husband had an arranged marriage. I asked if she believes that all arranged couples in India work so well together -- as she is suited for the behind the scenes work while he is the extroverted marketer -- and she said a lot of the time that is the case. That is why arranged marriage is so widely accepted in India -- because it works. Parents have the insight and wisdom to pick someone they know will best suit their child. Believe it or not, some of us are envious of this practice. It saves us the trouble of doing it ourselves, and it makes Indian women more accepting of their surroundings and more adaptable. That is a major difference I see in our two cultures. Americans tend to want to adapt our surroundings, while Indian women prefer to adapt themselves. Who is to say that either is better?
Jen Lindsay #4
We are having so many opportunities to meet with powerful women, learn about graduate programs offered at different Universities, and cultural activities. To see the great changes women have made progressing professionally is great. The change is happening so quickly that even between two generations respect for women in the workplace, the home and educational settings has noticably improved. But it is also important to remember that although many people are supportive of women in leadership, still more of the population believes a women's leadership should occur in the household. We held a q&a session with the highest executives of a textile unit in Coimbatore, concerning their factory and what roles women play in their great success. In response to my question, I donot see any women represented here, the CEO identified a woman standing near the door with a note pad, explaining she is a key player in their office (I think she was a secretary) Throughout this session, I sensed avoidance and discomfort when asked about women positions and leadership in the professional world. As a summary, his opinion (which can be generalized to most of the population of India outside of higher education universities)are supportive of women attending universities and having carreers, but feel it should not interfere with their responsibilites of the household and the family. During a personal interview I had with a family business owner, I discovered he inherited his business from his wife's father, and she doesnot work in the factory. Both (the CEO and the business owner) explained that although their wives and children were not official employees of their businesses, they still play important roles in the sucess of the business. After some avoidance by them and more specific questions by me, I discovered most responsibilites expected by the women is to support the men in their decisions and work lifestyle (late hours, traveling). Although both explained they would not have a problem with women working in their positions, they explained their positions' lifestyles were not suited for Indian women, and that women chose not to reach for such jobs. Also, they explained they would be supportive of their wives working, as long as it did not interfere with the responsibilities they have to the household and the family. Although it was frustrating talking to both of these men, and I left both situations with a sick angry feeling in my stomach, it was important to see that there is still a lot of change that needs to occur to reach equality here in India.
Heather Reis Blog #4
Today we are at the GIM school in the Coimbatore area. This is the first time that an American college has come to visit the university. Leaving the bus we were greeted by the entire staff and student body. As we walked up the path towards that main building, the students were playing music and giving us flowers. The students and faculty are so proud of their university and that we chose to come and visit them. The cultural performance which included dance, role playing, powerpoint, game, and religious ceremony was very informative. During the cultural performance the women dressed as mimes and acted out a typical Indian woman’s daily life. She first served her husband tea then got him ready for work, followed by dressing her child and sending them off to school. Lastly, she dressed herself and headed to work to deal with the stresses of her job. This helped me see how the working women of India face many of the same struggles as American working women but have the added stress of putting their family first. We were dresses in sarees today. The women of the college were so kind and helpful. Sarees, bangles, earrings, and traditional necklaces. These women have so much pride in their country and their school. Visiting this school, has made me look at my own life, values, and culture and how it affects who I am and my goals for my future.
January 11
Today was very interesting. When we first got to the college they set up a parade and fireworks. It was very nice to have such a warm welcoming. I also enjoyed the culture part of the day. The dances were very interesting and it was nice to hear more about the background of women's progression in the indian culture. The most interesting point of the show was that they described all the hard work that women do for themselves and their family. They have a sense of women empowerment that is different than how we show it in the United States. Also they gave us a "fashion show" of the different sares that women wear in different villages. The textile factory that we visited yesturday was also very interesting. We got to meet with the ceo which was exciting. I am excited for the next days to come.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Deb H. in Coimbature
Having a wonderful time in India. Yesterday we flew from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu. Driving from the airport to our hotel, I was excited to be looking at the same bustling streets my parents had seen when they were here 3 years ago. We paired off with students at Karpagam University. My new friend Lakshmi is a management student and aspires to work in a bank. Her parents are very supportive of her and her brother’s education. He has an MBA and works for a private company. I asked if she would work and also have a family and she replied, “Of course, m’am.” Her mother managed it, so she hopes she can too. She explained to me that half of her class is Tamil and half are Malayali. She is Malayali, but also speaks Tamil. The students tend to stay with their own groups, so she doesn’t know everyone in her class. They are taught in English. Lakshmi is Hindu and from Kerala, about 8 hrs away. She takes the train home to see her family every month. She has a boyfriend there too, but hasn’t told her parents because is Muslim and she is 99% sure they will not approve. She’s holding out hope for that 1% chance that they will say they can be married. He is confident that it will work out. In Tamil, it is more common for girls to have a dowry, but she does not. It was really fun to have Lakshmi with me later in the day when we went shopping. Kept awake by caffeine, I picked out some presents for friends and a quilt for myself. Lakshmi helped me negotiate with the vendors.
That afternoon we also met with executive Rajshree Pathy in her stunning office. I thought of my sister who would love the beautiful design of her work space, filled with contemporary art. We watched a news story video about her life which was funny because she was sitting right there, but it was interesting and a nice way to convey the information. We fought to keep our jet-lagged eyes open. She reminded me of my friend Margot Strom as she spoke to us about trying to be seamless in her personal and professional life, that her home and her office are extensions of herself.
We had dinner at the home of the parents of a professor from Karpagam. Their effusive hospitality was wonderful as they showed us their home and served an elaborate meal on the rooftop under a bright, festive canopy. Her two little girls dressed up special for us, stunning in their jewelry and fancy dress.
Today we are dressed in salwar kameez with flowers in our hair. We are a stunning rainbow.
That afternoon we also met with executive Rajshree Pathy in her stunning office. I thought of my sister who would love the beautiful design of her work space, filled with contemporary art. We watched a news story video about her life which was funny because she was sitting right there, but it was interesting and a nice way to convey the information. We fought to keep our jet-lagged eyes open. She reminded me of my friend Margot Strom as she spoke to us about trying to be seamless in her personal and professional life, that her home and her office are extensions of herself.
We had dinner at the home of the parents of a professor from Karpagam. Their effusive hospitality was wonderful as they showed us their home and served an elaborate meal on the rooftop under a bright, festive canopy. Her two little girls dressed up special for us, stunning in their jewelry and fancy dress.
Today we are dressed in salwar kameez with flowers in our hair. We are a stunning rainbow.
Anne M. Post #3
I’m not quite sure what to talk about in this blog post. Yesterday we flew from Bombay to Coimbatore. Coimbatore is more traditional, and feels a little brighter than Bombay. I wish I could have seen more of it. Yesterday I was very sick, and spent most of the time in the hotel room. I cannot express enough gratitude towards Professor Kelly for giving me her room, and for staying with me when I was scared. I also wish to remark on the hotel staff for being very prepared and nice for myself and the other girls who got sick. I suppose I should talk about my visit to the hospital. I was feeling better, but I went just in case. I’m glad I did not only for health reasons but so I could actually blog about something other than what my pillow looked like in the hotel room! It was an emergency clinic, and they normally don’t take cases like ours. But they were very obliging and kind to us. The nurses, I noticed, all had off white saris on, and I remember thinking how different that was. Today is much better. I still feel sore, and I don’t think I’ll be eating many spicy things, but I am confident I’ll be fine. Besides, today we are wearing traditional Indian clothing! Everyone looks lovely, and the colors just pop. They put jasmine flowers in our hair this morning as well, so it smells divine. Everything seems to be on the ups.
Zelina Fenandes 01/10/07
Yesterday was a very different experience it was almost to overbarring. At first i was excited to have some sun and meeting the new students, but the girls were all over me and it was scary. They have certain stereotype about american girls that are not true and i couldn't explain it, because they a. didn't care b. couldn't understnad. The students was very friendly and I couldn't get myself at their level, becaus many of the students could not understand me or i couldn't understand them. The women from the sugar indusrty was very inspirational and her story was beautiful. I definately like it here better than Mumbai, there was something strange about mumbai, but here i feel as though people are more compatible to me. Also, last night I got the chance to see a hospital in India. The hospital was very interesting, there method of cleaniness is nothing compared to the U.S. there were bloody gauges under the stretcher and dirty sheets and i had to lay on it. That was very gross!!! The people here have no care in the world. it seems as though they are very clam relaxed people and it is very interesting to me. So Yesterday I received my first shot on my buttocks that is a memory I will never forget in India!!!
Claudia #3
These last few days have been a crazy. Women in this part of India will enter into or are in arranged marriages. I think this plays a role in their life as a woman in the business world. An arranged marriage is often like a business transaction. In an arranged marriage women do not need to be a wife in the same way. We met a powerful business woman does not live in the same city as her husband. She does not need to play the role of a wife. This is one less responsibility she has.
I wonder if an arranged marriage takes less time because there does not need to be moments together, they do not need to worry about keeping the romance alive. However it could involve more work because it is like a business transaction and with there is certain responsibilities. The answer is probably different for each relationship.
The extended family net work is different in India. Women live with their parents then when they get married they live with their in-laws. When the women go to work family members watch their kids (there is also more daycares at work). I feel that if my extended family would look after my kids while I work it would be easier to be a mom and work. However with this comes other responsibility. The individual person has less choice. They must do what is best for the family or what their parents want. Few women have the opportunity to say no to their parents and do what they want to do.
I wonder if an arranged marriage takes less time because there does not need to be moments together, they do not need to worry about keeping the romance alive. However it could involve more work because it is like a business transaction and with there is certain responsibilities. The answer is probably different for each relationship.
The extended family net work is different in India. Women live with their parents then when they get married they live with their in-laws. When the women go to work family members watch their kids (there is also more daycares at work). I feel that if my extended family would look after my kids while I work it would be easier to be a mom and work. However with this comes other responsibility. The individual person has less choice. They must do what is best for the family or what their parents want. Few women have the opportunity to say no to their parents and do what they want to do.
Wei Wong - Post 3
We’ve been in Coimbatore for about a day and a half now and we aren’t leaving for another day. The culture down here is so different from that in Mumbai. Also, getting used to the jet lag and the food has definitely been interesting.
The women in Mumbai were more liberal and relaxed than the women here in Coimbatore, especially those we came in contact with at Somaiya University. We visited another university yesterday, the Karpagam Institute of Management Studies, and were well received by all the students and faculty. We had a chance speak with several of the students in small groups after the welcome ceremony, and learned all about how life is here for them. We spoke with Nithya, Lakshmi, and Priyanka, all two-year MBA students.
The girls explained that they were only allowed to wear saris or salwar kameez, instead of tailored jackets and suits. They are more respected with this type of wear, especially because of the Tamil culture. I learned that they follow the Tamil “bible,” which is more of a book of sayings and poems that they follow their lives by. The women are VERY traditional, living in joint families and accepting whatever comes to them. They do not argue, and when disagreements do occur, they will accept what happens. The entire family is involved in decision making, and arranged marriages are mostly common. Nithya spoke mainly for the group, with Lakshmi chiming in every once in awhile. Their accents were more difficult to understand than those accents in Mumbai; Prof. Gupta explained that it’s because of the culture and how fewer of them watch western shows.
The girls were studying to get their MBAs so that they could run their own businesses. Nithya explained that learning to manage their businesses also meant being able to manage their families, and that it wouldn’t be difficult to manage both because of the joint support received from the joint family. All three of them agreed that their mother is their role model, since it is whom they look up to. Marriage is especially important; if they don’t get married right after getting their MBAs, they will be asked to do so.
Compared to Mumbai, these women are considered conservative, especially in social terms. Family is extremely important overall, and education for women is becoming increasingly prominent. They are more accepting of their way of life, and are quite happy living this way.
I’ve been having a great time here, meeting lots of new people and making connections. It is quite exhausting at times, but I’ve gotten used to the time difference. I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind eating my rice with chopsticks and having less spice in my food, but that’s the cultural differences. I can’t wait to share all my stories with everyone! (Oh, I have to note that they are all crazy drivers down here. And Winnie and I were locked in our room yesterday till they got us out. More stories to come.)
The women in Mumbai were more liberal and relaxed than the women here in Coimbatore, especially those we came in contact with at Somaiya University. We visited another university yesterday, the Karpagam Institute of Management Studies, and were well received by all the students and faculty. We had a chance speak with several of the students in small groups after the welcome ceremony, and learned all about how life is here for them. We spoke with Nithya, Lakshmi, and Priyanka, all two-year MBA students.
The girls explained that they were only allowed to wear saris or salwar kameez, instead of tailored jackets and suits. They are more respected with this type of wear, especially because of the Tamil culture. I learned that they follow the Tamil “bible,” which is more of a book of sayings and poems that they follow their lives by. The women are VERY traditional, living in joint families and accepting whatever comes to them. They do not argue, and when disagreements do occur, they will accept what happens. The entire family is involved in decision making, and arranged marriages are mostly common. Nithya spoke mainly for the group, with Lakshmi chiming in every once in awhile. Their accents were more difficult to understand than those accents in Mumbai; Prof. Gupta explained that it’s because of the culture and how fewer of them watch western shows.
The girls were studying to get their MBAs so that they could run their own businesses. Nithya explained that learning to manage their businesses also meant being able to manage their families, and that it wouldn’t be difficult to manage both because of the joint support received from the joint family. All three of them agreed that their mother is their role model, since it is whom they look up to. Marriage is especially important; if they don’t get married right after getting their MBAs, they will be asked to do so.
Compared to Mumbai, these women are considered conservative, especially in social terms. Family is extremely important overall, and education for women is becoming increasingly prominent. They are more accepting of their way of life, and are quite happy living this way.
I’ve been having a great time here, meeting lots of new people and making connections. It is quite exhausting at times, but I’ve gotten used to the time difference. I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind eating my rice with chopsticks and having less spice in my food, but that’s the cultural differences. I can’t wait to share all my stories with everyone! (Oh, I have to note that they are all crazy drivers down here. And Winnie and I were locked in our room yesterday till they got us out. More stories to come.)
January 10th
I am happy to be in colomibtore. We are at the Jenson's school now. It is very nice. I think I am starting to adjust better to the food here. The culture here is a little bit different than mumbai. Indians are more traditional here in the south because their traditions were preserved more. We got saris today which is also exciting. I like it better here than in Mumbai because of the weather. There is also a nice breeze. It seems as though the slums are the same as mumbai but i little less crowded. The Jenson's school seems very nice and clean. The campus is beautiful. I am excited to learn more today.
Heather Reis Blog #2
Yesterday, we spent the day interviewing and shopping with a group of college women. I had the time to sit down and interview a student about her future career plans as well as her life and culture. She was an MBA student who aspired to become a banking executive. Her career goals developed due to her admiration of uncle’s profession. She said that in her culture there is much respect for individuals that hold these positions. I asked her if she would like to work for an international company. Her answer surprised me. She said that this idea had not even crossed her mind. She wants to contribute to the expansion and growth of her country and feels it is her duty as an educated citizen. We also discussed many of the differences in our cultures such as dating, tattoos, tongue rings, music, education, dress, and other small but interesting differences. In the evening she helped me with my shopping, explaining the clothing, small sculptures, and payment.
Music is a very important part of my life in the states, so I asked her to choose an Indian cd. Over all this experience was positive, though it was slightly uncomfortable at times due to the close contact, hand holding and other close contact that is seen as a sign of friendship in her culture.
Meeting with the CEO of the sugar company was an inspiring and rewarding experience. Her strength, dedication, and devotion to her career and family was admirable.
Music is a very important part of my life in the states, so I asked her to choose an Indian cd. Over all this experience was positive, though it was slightly uncomfortable at times due to the close contact, hand holding and other close contact that is seen as a sign of friendship in her culture.
Meeting with the CEO of the sugar company was an inspiring and rewarding experience. Her strength, dedication, and devotion to her career and family was admirable.
Jen Lindsay #3
I feel like a movie star. I wrote last time about how surprising Indian hospitality is, but now it's even more so. We've now visited three Universities where we have been honored guests. One college actually clapped for us when we entered the room, and held a special wisdom lighting ceremony for us! We've been taken in by some Indian students who have dressed us head to toe in Indian culture. When we broke off for conversations with Indian students from the college, she informed me hospitality is an honor and they are proud to care for their guests. The student I spoke with was married (arranged by her parents) and has a two year old daughter. She lives away from her family so she can finish her graduate degree. Later in the afternoon, we met with a very powerful sugarcane CEO who expained her life and challenges she's had to face to reach the top. She also lives away from her husband, and during a q&a session explained how regardless of country, women must make sacrifices in order to succeed in their carreers. In both situations, the student and the CEO not only the women are making sacrifices, but their husbands and families as well. Women cannot become successful and care for a family without the support of their husbands and families. Especially in India, where extended family is so involved in caring for the home and children because no other aid (daycare) is available. I'm seeing more and more that although two countries on opposite sides of the world have drastically different cultures, women truely are facing the same challenges, having to make the same decisions, and making the same sacrifices in order to reach their highest goals. It is comforting to see such confident women in a culture that stereotypically undermines them. But even in the states, many stereotypes about women in power occur, which are becoming clearer all the time.
Post 3, Courtney Williams
Yesterday we arrived in Coimbatore, it's a much cleaner, but more conservative place than Mumbai. Before we landed here we flew over a beautiful mountain range, I think it was a fitting first impression of the city. The people here are very hospitable, and we've been presented with several gifts already such as saree's and salwar kameez, which is a dress, scarf and pant set.
We've been to two schools here now, and met several highly influential women entrepreneurs. One of these women was Rajshree Pathy, the chairman and managing director of Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals. We learned so much from her, because she went to school at Harvard and was able to give us a lot of cultural insight because of her experiences in America. She talked about how what we often see as discrimination, or lack of respect towards a woman of power, doesn’t really happen here, what does happen, however, is a lack of respect towards female peers, which I feel is close to the opposite of what happens in the united states. Her presence itself was very powerful and poised, the more I learned about her life (as she showed us a video about her from CNBC and talked with us for awhile) the more impressed I became with her strength. Something that she mentioned about herself really stuck with me, and made her a bit of a role model in my eyes. She said that she is the same person, at home with her family, out on the street, in the factories, and in the office. She doesn’t try to pretend she is a cold masculine figure to gain power and respect, she lives as the same warm person wherever she is, she is always a mother, wife, and executive, at the same time. This lack of separation, which I think is the opposite of what most American women try to achieve, can always be seen. For instance when visiting sugar cane farmers she would bring her infant son along with her, and even now that he is older, when he is on break for college in England he comes to the office with her. She has never hesitated to be there for her children, even at the expense of the business, but not to the extent that it rules the entirety of her life. The balance that she has achieved is enviable at the very least.
We've been to two schools here now, and met several highly influential women entrepreneurs. One of these women was Rajshree Pathy, the chairman and managing director of Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals. We learned so much from her, because she went to school at Harvard and was able to give us a lot of cultural insight because of her experiences in America. She talked about how what we often see as discrimination, or lack of respect towards a woman of power, doesn’t really happen here, what does happen, however, is a lack of respect towards female peers, which I feel is close to the opposite of what happens in the united states. Her presence itself was very powerful and poised, the more I learned about her life (as she showed us a video about her from CNBC and talked with us for awhile) the more impressed I became with her strength. Something that she mentioned about herself really stuck with me, and made her a bit of a role model in my eyes. She said that she is the same person, at home with her family, out on the street, in the factories, and in the office. She doesn’t try to pretend she is a cold masculine figure to gain power and respect, she lives as the same warm person wherever she is, she is always a mother, wife, and executive, at the same time. This lack of separation, which I think is the opposite of what most American women try to achieve, can always be seen. For instance when visiting sugar cane farmers she would bring her infant son along with her, and even now that he is older, when he is on break for college in England he comes to the office with her. She has never hesitated to be there for her children, even at the expense of the business, but not to the extent that it rules the entirety of her life. The balance that she has achieved is enviable at the very least.
Kimberly Le POst #3
It feels like I have been here for more than just a few days. The culture is so rich and I am trying to take everything in. The students from the college that I met are so sweet. They'll do everything they can to make you feel comfortable. The girls are eager to learn which makes me feel that I am also contributing to their experiences.
I got to know two female students who are very friendly and outgoing. I got a sense of how they live their lives here in India, and what it means to be a girl growing up in India. I learned that about 90% of the girls have arranged marriages, and to my surprise, the girls are pretty much content with whom their parents choose for them. The belief is that the parents will find the best suitable spouse and they trust their parents. Now, I think that's a little nutty because love is such an amazing thing, and falling in love and having that type of feeling is beautiful, wouldn't you want to be in love with someone and spend the rest of your life with them instead of staying with that person just because your parents set you up? Well, something must be right, because the divorce rate in the U.S. is over 55% since I last checked and the couples from India have more than 90% chance of making the relationship last.
Towards early evening, we got to meet a very well respected woman CEO from Coimbatore. She runs a sugar factory here, which is the second largest in the world. I was able to sense that in her younger years, when she was just starting out, she didn't really know what it was she wanted to do, but she knew intuitively that she needed to build up this sugar business. Similar to myself, she was also a realisitc woman knowing the ins and outs of how men are, of how realisitc relationships can be, just overall a very wise woman. Being superwoman is what you have to be, basically, you shouldhavea career, be a wife, and a mother, and you need to do all these things well, but with every decision that you make, comes a cost. She said to choose wisely because to get something, you must always give something up, and it is up to you to decide what is important and what is not.
As the night crept in, I began to understand a little more about myself. I had to blow my nose during this wonderful dinner we had on top of a roof, and to be polite, i excused myself from the table and went towards an opening away from the people. There, i saw night at its best, with the sky scattered lightly with stars, some glistening more than others, and all I wanted to do then and there was look up, and just breathe. When was the last time I actually enjoyed the moment just ofr the sake of enjoying the moment? I wanted to come to India to see how life is here but mostly, to TRY to figure a few things out for myself. One of the male students came to the spot I was at and tried to get me to come back to where everyone was, but I asked him to be quiet and just look up, and just enjoy what comes free in this life. I didn't need anyone looking after me but he felt compelled to watch over me becaue his professor told him too LOL. He laughed when I was gazing and so I asked him, does he ever take time from his busy life to just enjoy what can be universally enjoyed by all, do you ever look at the stars? And he said no, and I said well you can do it now and he did. He said it was beautiful and asked me to come back. I didn't refuse.
The ride back from dinner to the hotel was peaceful. I got a better sense of how I want my life to be and so I felt horrible for being the person that I am back home, although grateful for everything I have, I came to realize that I should be more humble and not so materialistic.
I'm glad to be here and I hope that by the end of my trip, I have a better idea of what this life for me, should be about. I actually have choices in life. Maybe I should be makign better ones.
I got to know two female students who are very friendly and outgoing. I got a sense of how they live their lives here in India, and what it means to be a girl growing up in India. I learned that about 90% of the girls have arranged marriages, and to my surprise, the girls are pretty much content with whom their parents choose for them. The belief is that the parents will find the best suitable spouse and they trust their parents. Now, I think that's a little nutty because love is such an amazing thing, and falling in love and having that type of feeling is beautiful, wouldn't you want to be in love with someone and spend the rest of your life with them instead of staying with that person just because your parents set you up? Well, something must be right, because the divorce rate in the U.S. is over 55% since I last checked and the couples from India have more than 90% chance of making the relationship last.
Towards early evening, we got to meet a very well respected woman CEO from Coimbatore. She runs a sugar factory here, which is the second largest in the world. I was able to sense that in her younger years, when she was just starting out, she didn't really know what it was she wanted to do, but she knew intuitively that she needed to build up this sugar business. Similar to myself, she was also a realisitc woman knowing the ins and outs of how men are, of how realisitc relationships can be, just overall a very wise woman. Being superwoman is what you have to be, basically, you shouldhavea career, be a wife, and a mother, and you need to do all these things well, but with every decision that you make, comes a cost. She said to choose wisely because to get something, you must always give something up, and it is up to you to decide what is important and what is not.
As the night crept in, I began to understand a little more about myself. I had to blow my nose during this wonderful dinner we had on top of a roof, and to be polite, i excused myself from the table and went towards an opening away from the people. There, i saw night at its best, with the sky scattered lightly with stars, some glistening more than others, and all I wanted to do then and there was look up, and just breathe. When was the last time I actually enjoyed the moment just ofr the sake of enjoying the moment? I wanted to come to India to see how life is here but mostly, to TRY to figure a few things out for myself. One of the male students came to the spot I was at and tried to get me to come back to where everyone was, but I asked him to be quiet and just look up, and just enjoy what comes free in this life. I didn't need anyone looking after me but he felt compelled to watch over me becaue his professor told him too LOL. He laughed when I was gazing and so I asked him, does he ever take time from his busy life to just enjoy what can be universally enjoyed by all, do you ever look at the stars? And he said no, and I said well you can do it now and he did. He said it was beautiful and asked me to come back. I didn't refuse.
The ride back from dinner to the hotel was peaceful. I got a better sense of how I want my life to be and so I felt horrible for being the person that I am back home, although grateful for everything I have, I came to realize that I should be more humble and not so materialistic.
I'm glad to be here and I hope that by the end of my trip, I have a better idea of what this life for me, should be about. I actually have choices in life. Maybe I should be makign better ones.
Melanie - clothing
Today we received a traditional outfit worn by Indian women, the name well I don’t really know how to spell it so I will omit that piece. They are quite beautiful, made up of draw string pants that are one color and print and a long top that goes down to about your calves and that is made up of another print and color. It is accompanied with a shawl like piece that can be draped in two different manners, either over your shoulder or around your neck with the loose ends hanging in the back. Well I learned today that when having a custom made outfit done here they often take different measurements than we would think to in the US. In the US we take into account each and every portion of the body, being your shoulders, your chest, hips and all of that. Well here they only take into account your chest, waist and length of your legs. So when I went to put mine on the draw string on the pants was a little short but worked, everyone else’s had lots of slack on the string. The top on the other hang that is an entirely different story, haha. Since I was a swimmer growing up, I have big broad shoulders and since the only thing they noted down was my chest size, well it didn’t make it over my shoulders. So I get to be the cool kid today wearing my normal clothes while everyone is all dressed up. Talk about standing out.
India Continues to amaze
India has been eye opening. There are so many wonderful things to say, and so many surprises along the way. I have loved the interaction we have had between the people of this culture. Traveling from Mumbai to Coimbatore has shown us the varying differences within the culture of India as a whole. The women here seem to be much more reserved and pious. They are much more religious and the ways of the western world have not reached them yet.
I have one observation and theory based on what I have noticed thus far. Indian women are not allowed to interact much with men, limiting their chances to find love on their own. This makes the matchmaking and arranged marraige easier for them, as they do not know anything else. In their culture, to interact with a man in a more than friendly manner is unacceptable. They are not even allowed to go out with men in groups unless accompanied by an adult.
I have noticed that the interaction between women here is much more hands on. They hold hands and hold each other around the waist, much like a western couple might. I theorize that the women, in lack of male companionship, have attached themselves in a more than friendly way to other females. Even when we first met our "friends" from the University in Coimbatore, they grabbed hold of our hands and led us across the street, even through the halls and around campus. This open and close relationship and contact with women is reminicsent of what I might do with a male friend, or a boyfriend. On the flip side, even men have been seen holding hands and with arms around the shoulder, a sign of affection wich might be made fun of in the states.
My theory being said, I have had an amazing and eye opening time in India thus far. It has been humbling. For example, we went to the house of a women professor last night for dinner. I was so impressed by the hospitality they showed us, and the pride in their faces when they hosted us. We were given a tour of their home, a home which might be considered meager in our society. They were so proud of that home, and the pride portrayed was comfort enough for us to realize that, in this society, it is not what you have or what you are able to buy, but the way that you use your gifts to help others. As the founder of the University at Mumbai said... "give back to the community what you have been given, multifold."
I have one observation and theory based on what I have noticed thus far. Indian women are not allowed to interact much with men, limiting their chances to find love on their own. This makes the matchmaking and arranged marraige easier for them, as they do not know anything else. In their culture, to interact with a man in a more than friendly manner is unacceptable. They are not even allowed to go out with men in groups unless accompanied by an adult.
I have noticed that the interaction between women here is much more hands on. They hold hands and hold each other around the waist, much like a western couple might. I theorize that the women, in lack of male companionship, have attached themselves in a more than friendly way to other females. Even when we first met our "friends" from the University in Coimbatore, they grabbed hold of our hands and led us across the street, even through the halls and around campus. This open and close relationship and contact with women is reminicsent of what I might do with a male friend, or a boyfriend. On the flip side, even men have been seen holding hands and with arms around the shoulder, a sign of affection wich might be made fun of in the states.
My theory being said, I have had an amazing and eye opening time in India thus far. It has been humbling. For example, we went to the house of a women professor last night for dinner. I was so impressed by the hospitality they showed us, and the pride in their faces when they hosted us. We were given a tour of their home, a home which might be considered meager in our society. They were so proud of that home, and the pride portrayed was comfort enough for us to realize that, in this society, it is not what you have or what you are able to buy, but the way that you use your gifts to help others. As the founder of the University at Mumbai said... "give back to the community what you have been given, multifold."
Winnie Huie #3
This is the third day we are in India! It feel we have been here for more because of the many activates that have been happening during the trip. Yesterday we have left Mumbai to visit the Karpagamarts Institute. We were surprisingly greeted by a large group of students both boys and girl and were welcomed with a speech from the chairman and thanks from the student. The lighting ceremony was beautiful both visually and meaning. After, we partnered up with women students to discuss their culture and women leadership. Here we all have learned a lot.
I realized this culture was different from Mumbai even though they were from the same country. The girls here experience more conservative ideas like being home before 6pm to take care of the home and how they were not allowed to interact with the boys. Only acknowledge them as a schoolmates, but no more. I personally witness this when I asked if we can go outside to talk, but the girl felt very uncomfortable and strongly disagreed with this idea. She said there were boys out there and did not want to interact with them. Also, I realized each girl came from different backgrounds because when this event happed some girls wanted to leave telling her it was no problem.
Culture in marriage is also very different because the girls said if they were not married by the age of 24, they were asked by their family to marry. I thought this was odd, but it was more of a shock for them that women in the states were able to choose not to marry or to marry much older.
For me, I felt their life was very repressed, but when they were talking about their culture then sound proud. I feel for them this practice works for their structured culture, but would not work for me. This was an eye opener and I am excited to see what other different culture existed in India.
I realized this culture was different from Mumbai even though they were from the same country. The girls here experience more conservative ideas like being home before 6pm to take care of the home and how they were not allowed to interact with the boys. Only acknowledge them as a schoolmates, but no more. I personally witness this when I asked if we can go outside to talk, but the girl felt very uncomfortable and strongly disagreed with this idea. She said there were boys out there and did not want to interact with them. Also, I realized each girl came from different backgrounds because when this event happed some girls wanted to leave telling her it was no problem.
Culture in marriage is also very different because the girls said if they were not married by the age of 24, they were asked by their family to marry. I thought this was odd, but it was more of a shock for them that women in the states were able to choose not to marry or to marry much older.
For me, I felt their life was very repressed, but when they were talking about their culture then sound proud. I feel for them this practice works for their structured culture, but would not work for me. This was an eye opener and I am excited to see what other different culture existed in India.
Steph K. Jan. 10
The differences between Coimbature and Mumbai are immense. For starters, the weather is much nicer here, it's got a real beachy feel. The food is also much different. I was expecting more spice in the south, but actually the food is less spicy and agrees more with my stomach.
Karpagam University students are totally different than the Somaiya students. They are all slightly younger. Here they are around 20 and 21 in their MA program while I believe the ladies at Somaiya told me they prefer to have some experience, and some of them were around 25. They are also much more traditional socially. In Mumbai the ladies wore their saris to show us what traditional dress looked like, and it was nice to see them later in the day wearing the clothes they’d typically wear to classes. However, in Coimbature, the ladies told me that they wear the sarees every day and they don’t ever wear western garb. It is also taboo to socialize alone with men.
I met three ladies who were all very curious about the differences between our two cultures. We asked each other about cultural norms and school and career choices. I asked what their career aspirations were and they all seemed confused by that question. They were management students, so they wanted to be managers. They didn’t know in which field or have any preferences except that the company they work with preferably be American or European. I asked them if they socialize with the male students and if they are respectful in class, and they told me that in and out of class the males respect them like goddesses, but they are very shy about socializing in public. However, later in the afternoon one of the girls was talking on the phone with a boy while keeping it hidden in her purse from the professors. They all will have arranged marriages and the told me that no matter what they want to do after graduation, first their parents will have them married, and then their husband’s family will ultimately decide where she can and cannot work. They all agreed that this was alright, and they weren’t upset that they probably wouldn’t be making decisions for themselves. They seemed much more reserved than the women in Mumbai.
In general, there are large cultural differences between females in Mumbai and in Coimbature. The ladies in Coimbature are more traditional, and their social skills are more equal to what we would think about high school girls. Their questions actually overwhelmed me and combined with the heat and bumpy bus ride, I was literally exhausted and had to go back to the hotel early. It was a great experience to meet the ladies and get a sense of the differences around the country, but unfortunately it put me into system overload.
Karpagam University students are totally different than the Somaiya students. They are all slightly younger. Here they are around 20 and 21 in their MA program while I believe the ladies at Somaiya told me they prefer to have some experience, and some of them were around 25. They are also much more traditional socially. In Mumbai the ladies wore their saris to show us what traditional dress looked like, and it was nice to see them later in the day wearing the clothes they’d typically wear to classes. However, in Coimbature, the ladies told me that they wear the sarees every day and they don’t ever wear western garb. It is also taboo to socialize alone with men.
I met three ladies who were all very curious about the differences between our two cultures. We asked each other about cultural norms and school and career choices. I asked what their career aspirations were and they all seemed confused by that question. They were management students, so they wanted to be managers. They didn’t know in which field or have any preferences except that the company they work with preferably be American or European. I asked them if they socialize with the male students and if they are respectful in class, and they told me that in and out of class the males respect them like goddesses, but they are very shy about socializing in public. However, later in the afternoon one of the girls was talking on the phone with a boy while keeping it hidden in her purse from the professors. They all will have arranged marriages and the told me that no matter what they want to do after graduation, first their parents will have them married, and then their husband’s family will ultimately decide where she can and cannot work. They all agreed that this was alright, and they weren’t upset that they probably wouldn’t be making decisions for themselves. They seemed much more reserved than the women in Mumbai.
In general, there are large cultural differences between females in Mumbai and in Coimbature. The ladies in Coimbature are more traditional, and their social skills are more equal to what we would think about high school girls. Their questions actually overwhelmed me and combined with the heat and bumpy bus ride, I was literally exhausted and had to go back to the hotel early. It was a great experience to meet the ladies and get a sense of the differences around the country, but unfortunately it put me into system overload.
Jessica blog post number 2
I am sitting here in my bright blue salwar kameez, trying to choose a topic for this blog post. It is hard to pick only one thing to write about!
One of the most interesting things about being here and interacting with the Indian students is hearing their views on marriage, and how their plans for marriage influence their future job paths.
Yesterday, I asked a student if she is in an arranged marriage. She said that her parents currently do not have any plans for her, but she told me that she really wants an arranged marriage.
Just now, on the bus ride over here, I spoke with a student named Kirubha. She is 22, and she said that when she is 23 her parents will find a husband for her. The best thing about arranged marriage, according to Kirubha, is the family support that comes along with it. She said that if she decided on a love marriage and was unhappy with it, her family would have an "I told you so" attitude. With an arranged marriage, however, both her family and her in-laws will support her and her husband and do as much as they can to make them happy together.
Kirubha also told me that she will have a say in who she marries, and can easily reject a man that her parents choose for her. Once her parents find a man with an adequate job, status, caste, religion, and zodiac sign, she will have about 2-3 months to "mingle" with him and get to know him better. She said that future husbands and wives only hold hands prior to marriage--nothing else. This is all very different from the marriage process in America.
From my American perspective, it is difficult to understand why women would actually prefer arranged marriages. I think that since India has such a high in-group collective context with such a large focus on family support, it makes sense for the future brides to want to marry someone who is deemed acceptable by their parents.
The trip has been great so far, I've been having a blast. I'm looking forward to the activities planned later on in the day!
Bye!
One of the most interesting things about being here and interacting with the Indian students is hearing their views on marriage, and how their plans for marriage influence their future job paths.
Yesterday, I asked a student if she is in an arranged marriage. She said that her parents currently do not have any plans for her, but she told me that she really wants an arranged marriage.
Just now, on the bus ride over here, I spoke with a student named Kirubha. She is 22, and she said that when she is 23 her parents will find a husband for her. The best thing about arranged marriage, according to Kirubha, is the family support that comes along with it. She said that if she decided on a love marriage and was unhappy with it, her family would have an "I told you so" attitude. With an arranged marriage, however, both her family and her in-laws will support her and her husband and do as much as they can to make them happy together.
Kirubha also told me that she will have a say in who she marries, and can easily reject a man that her parents choose for her. Once her parents find a man with an adequate job, status, caste, religion, and zodiac sign, she will have about 2-3 months to "mingle" with him and get to know him better. She said that future husbands and wives only hold hands prior to marriage--nothing else. This is all very different from the marriage process in America.
From my American perspective, it is difficult to understand why women would actually prefer arranged marriages. I think that since India has such a high in-group collective context with such a large focus on family support, it makes sense for the future brides to want to marry someone who is deemed acceptable by their parents.
The trip has been great so far, I've been having a blast. I'm looking forward to the activities planned later on in the day!
Bye!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Jen Lindsay #2
I guess I’ve survived my first day in India! Our presentations today have all been very wonderful. I’ve had many opportunities to speak with so many amazing women. Our hostess Amrita Somaiya has shared so much information about culture in Bombay, including education systems, typical housing situations, cell phone culture, and salary. There are many similarities including grants provided by the government to assist for payment of education, apartment buildings in the inner city, with single family homes in the suburbs, and laborers/immigrant workers. Some quotes: “cell phone culture has exploded in India” (while describing an image of a cart vender living in a slum, sitting on the floor talking on a cell phone) and some people describe Indian culture as “religion and Bollywood”. Other speakers shared information on our host school’s fund and hospital outreach programs, working with the Warli tribe community. Although the community is less than 20 miles from Bombay, it is incredibly poor and rural. These outreach programs are working with the community to improve their value of education, and provides free care to HIV/AIDS sufferers with dignity and sensitivity.
After a very thorough tour of the campus and all the separate colleges, I had the opportunity to go for a short walk with one of the management graduate students. She and I found it surprisingly easy to talk about our lives, and commonalities including relationships with our families, transportation and traveling away from our boyfriends. We had an interesting conversation about her and her boyfriend her parents do not know she is dating. Her and him belong to different classes, meaning different religion, language, home like customs, and basically everything, and yet are finding it possible to build a relationship. If they decided to marry, both her and her husband would be exiled from their families so they would be forced to live on their own (very against typical culture). I asked would they really do that, and she answered, “Yes, this relationship is damn difficult.” She explained that if she was forced to leave her family she would miss them too much, but they are still trying to make it work.
A bit of culture that I hope to take back with me, is Indian hospitality. How generous and genuine everyone has been is kind of overwhelming. All the free gifts we’re receiving are colorful and beautiful. Our group has “servers” that provides tea and biscuits, and bottled water whenever we ask. It seems our hosts anticipate our wishes and has them ready for us before we even ask. Conversations are unrestricted, and everyone is willing to answer any curious questions we can think up. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in that I’m in India, but I’m so glad I am!
After a very thorough tour of the campus and all the separate colleges, I had the opportunity to go for a short walk with one of the management graduate students. She and I found it surprisingly easy to talk about our lives, and commonalities including relationships with our families, transportation and traveling away from our boyfriends. We had an interesting conversation about her and her boyfriend her parents do not know she is dating. Her and him belong to different classes, meaning different religion, language, home like customs, and basically everything, and yet are finding it possible to build a relationship. If they decided to marry, both her and her husband would be exiled from their families so they would be forced to live on their own (very against typical culture). I asked would they really do that, and she answered, “Yes, this relationship is damn difficult.” She explained that if she was forced to leave her family she would miss them too much, but they are still trying to make it work.
A bit of culture that I hope to take back with me, is Indian hospitality. How generous and genuine everyone has been is kind of overwhelming. All the free gifts we’re receiving are colorful and beautiful. Our group has “servers” that provides tea and biscuits, and bottled water whenever we ask. It seems our hosts anticipate our wishes and has them ready for us before we even ask. Conversations are unrestricted, and everyone is willing to answer any curious questions we can think up. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in that I’m in India, but I’m so glad I am!
Heather Reis Blog #1
This is such an amazing experience! I don’t think it has fully sunk in that I am half way across the world. Leaving the airport last night, we saw crowds of people, smelled the difference in the air, and were surrounded by cars continually beeping their horns. Today, we spent the day at the university. While touring the Vidyavihar Somaiya campus I met a young woman a few years old than I who is working on her graduate degree. I was able to see areas where our lives were similar as well as find some differences between us. We discussed our upbringing and how we were both taught the importance of earning a degree and bettering ourselves through education. I was surprised to find out that both of her parents had college degrees. I asked her if she was concerned about being stuck in a middle management position, which happens often to women in the US and many other places. She said that this was not too much of a concern for her because she is working on her master’s degree and she feels that education is the way to break through this restraint. I thought this to be interesting. I agree that education allows for advancement but I feel that attitude, confidence, and assertiveness are also very important in moving to top level positions. My new friend was interested in my ideas and took a lot from our conversation. On a cultural note, I am surprised at how much I enjoy the cuisine. I’m taking tons of great pictures. I can’t wait to get home and share them with my family. If you are reading this..love you Mom and Dad!
Winnie Huie #2
Wow, it is amazing to be in India! The flight was long and exhausting, but I am glad to be in the country. Arrive was such a shock, everything was different from the smell to seeing constant construction sites. Seeing the people waiting outside was especially an eye opener. I have never seen so many people cluttered together, it seemed people were one top of each other behind an invisible line. Seeing all this made me realize I was in a whole different country.
Arriving at Somaiya was such a welcoming experience. I never expected people to be so open, this is different in Boston where people tend not to be as friendly. Although, they have given us some keepsakes, I am more appreciative of their great hospitality and welcoming faculties and students. I have learned a lot from them about women’s leadership from them. I especially saw the similarity between America and India when they discussed with us about the importance of family support, and without it; their chances of succeeding dwindles. When a faculty shared her mother-in-law said to her “they didn’t look for a working daughter-in-law for money, but because of her independency”. I thought this was a glimpse at the next generation of encouraging women leadership, a positive change. The student, the next generation of women have shared also dreams of becoming the next role modal for aspiring women’s leaders. I see here in Mumbai, women are active in changing gender roles. They know this change maybe slow, but will soon come especially with the up coming trend of changing the role of motherhood.
The new trend of motherhood they shared with us is having children later rather then now so they may have the opportunity to concentrate of their education. Once again, because of the culture some family may not be supportive of this. Under pressure the woman may succumb and make the sacrifice, but the faculty said this is a growing trend. Also, it is starting to be acceptable for husbands to assist in the household. Due to it starting though the women of the college said this is rare, “one in a million”, but a potential to start.
This is just one opinion; Gupta has said this will change pending on the areas of India. I am excited to see what will happen. Right now though, I hope to concentrate on recovering from jet leg, night.
Arriving at Somaiya was such a welcoming experience. I never expected people to be so open, this is different in Boston where people tend not to be as friendly. Although, they have given us some keepsakes, I am more appreciative of their great hospitality and welcoming faculties and students. I have learned a lot from them about women’s leadership from them. I especially saw the similarity between America and India when they discussed with us about the importance of family support, and without it; their chances of succeeding dwindles. When a faculty shared her mother-in-law said to her “they didn’t look for a working daughter-in-law for money, but because of her independency”. I thought this was a glimpse at the next generation of encouraging women leadership, a positive change. The student, the next generation of women have shared also dreams of becoming the next role modal for aspiring women’s leaders. I see here in Mumbai, women are active in changing gender roles. They know this change maybe slow, but will soon come especially with the up coming trend of changing the role of motherhood.
The new trend of motherhood they shared with us is having children later rather then now so they may have the opportunity to concentrate of their education. Once again, because of the culture some family may not be supportive of this. Under pressure the woman may succumb and make the sacrifice, but the faculty said this is a growing trend. Also, it is starting to be acceptable for husbands to assist in the household. Due to it starting though the women of the college said this is rare, “one in a million”, but a potential to start.
This is just one opinion; Gupta has said this will change pending on the areas of India. I am excited to see what will happen. Right now though, I hope to concentrate on recovering from jet leg, night.
Claudia #2
Today was our first day in India. The college attitudes do not seem that different than where we go to school. The women of the college feel that in college the men and women are treated the same, similar to our culture. However they know this is not the same in the business world. This leads to questions about how the men in college will treat women after they graduate. Will the men that treat women as equals in the class room, do the same when they leave the classroom and enter the work force?
The female students we met seem to have lives similar to ours. However they are the exception not the norm. The women that are adults have a different life then we do. They have family pressures to become certain people. They have roles to take care of their in-laws. These women have a lot of responsibilities, more then the average women in America.
There is strong sense of family in the India culture. Having family support has a great impact on women entering and staying in the work force. If a family supports the women in getting an education and working, they will help look after the children. Most importantly they will not try and talk the women out of it. Women in India are pressured into fallowing their parent’s wishes. Educated women have some strong similarities to us; however their family life and other parts of the life are very different.
The female students we met seem to have lives similar to ours. However they are the exception not the norm. The women that are adults have a different life then we do. They have family pressures to become certain people. They have roles to take care of their in-laws. These women have a lot of responsibilities, more then the average women in America.
There is strong sense of family in the India culture. Having family support has a great impact on women entering and staying in the work force. If a family supports the women in getting an education and working, they will help look after the children. Most importantly they will not try and talk the women out of it. Women in India are pressured into fallowing their parent’s wishes. Educated women have some strong similarities to us; however their family life and other parts of the life are very different.
Wei Wong - #2
It’s been three days since we left the states and I think that everyone, including myself, is quite exhausted. But it’s wonderful to be able to take all of this in – when we arrived last night at Mumbai International Airport, it was surprising to see all of the palm trees and people instead of paved cement and TSA officials directing cars away from the fire lanes. It was also refreshing to see so many welcoming faces, even though many of them are still strangers to me (not so much today, though).
The culture here is incredibly diverse. From the readings, I was able to understand the concept of vast identities in India, but the immersion experience just from landing at the airport has made a very deep impact on my experience here. Despite the fact that the official languages used in the Indian government are English and Hindi, only 50% of the country is able to truly understand the latter. I’m still adjusting to the idea that most people are minorities here.
We are staying at a student hostel at Somaiya University, which is about 20 minutes away from the airport. This morning and afternoon, several professors and students presented on the history of the university and on women leadership. Dr. Patricia Gokhale’s presentation was very informative; she explained the vision and mission of the founder of the University, which center around the tradition of strong values. The founder believed in giving back to the community multi-fold after taking in any learning, and the University is doing just that by providing education to disadvantaged cultural groups (and to people of all races, genders, etc.). By working with the community to get them to see the value of education, the University was able to lower the dropout rate and improve the students’ quality of life.
I noted some conflicting beliefs of women leadership during our tour today. While many of our hosts felt that women are moving more towards the corporate sector, obtaining and maintaining their leadership positions there, some still believe that women belong in the “home sciences sector.” One professor explicitly stated this (amongst our all-women student group, of course), and I immediately wanted to rebut his comment. There were no special programs for women in engineering, as one principal stated strongly as well. Yet, in the engineering college, where many of the majors are geared towards males, women make up 30% of the computer science and information technology fields, which shows the growing interest of women in sciences and their potential for leadership within these fields. When the presenter was asked about why women preferred these fields as opposed to computer science, she stated that “women in India prefer to work in offices” and that men are not very receptive to a female supervisor, especially on the factory floor. In observing these opposing beliefs, I wondered about the lengths that Indian women still had to travel in order to be accepted as capable and inspirational leaders.
Work-life balance is another issue that women face in India. While family support is important to a woman’s decision to have children or continue with her career and educational goals, she may still feel pressure from her in-laws to start a family. Moreover, her neighbors may question her health and ask her why she is not yet having children. The group panel also highlighted the generational gaps of having children at the age of 35 versus having children at a younger age, such as the psychological conflicts that the parents and children may face. The situation is similar in the U.S., especially amongst the Baby Boomers, where the effects can be seen in Generation Y.
I was intrigued by how many similarities there were between the U.S. and Indian cultures, but this is bound to change once we visit other areas, such as Coimbatore and Kolhapur. I’m excited for the next few days, but I’m also hoping to get some more rest.
The culture here is incredibly diverse. From the readings, I was able to understand the concept of vast identities in India, but the immersion experience just from landing at the airport has made a very deep impact on my experience here. Despite the fact that the official languages used in the Indian government are English and Hindi, only 50% of the country is able to truly understand the latter. I’m still adjusting to the idea that most people are minorities here.
We are staying at a student hostel at Somaiya University, which is about 20 minutes away from the airport. This morning and afternoon, several professors and students presented on the history of the university and on women leadership. Dr. Patricia Gokhale’s presentation was very informative; she explained the vision and mission of the founder of the University, which center around the tradition of strong values. The founder believed in giving back to the community multi-fold after taking in any learning, and the University is doing just that by providing education to disadvantaged cultural groups (and to people of all races, genders, etc.). By working with the community to get them to see the value of education, the University was able to lower the dropout rate and improve the students’ quality of life.
I noted some conflicting beliefs of women leadership during our tour today. While many of our hosts felt that women are moving more towards the corporate sector, obtaining and maintaining their leadership positions there, some still believe that women belong in the “home sciences sector.” One professor explicitly stated this (amongst our all-women student group, of course), and I immediately wanted to rebut his comment. There were no special programs for women in engineering, as one principal stated strongly as well. Yet, in the engineering college, where many of the majors are geared towards males, women make up 30% of the computer science and information technology fields, which shows the growing interest of women in sciences and their potential for leadership within these fields. When the presenter was asked about why women preferred these fields as opposed to computer science, she stated that “women in India prefer to work in offices” and that men are not very receptive to a female supervisor, especially on the factory floor. In observing these opposing beliefs, I wondered about the lengths that Indian women still had to travel in order to be accepted as capable and inspirational leaders.
Work-life balance is another issue that women face in India. While family support is important to a woman’s decision to have children or continue with her career and educational goals, she may still feel pressure from her in-laws to start a family. Moreover, her neighbors may question her health and ask her why she is not yet having children. The group panel also highlighted the generational gaps of having children at the age of 35 versus having children at a younger age, such as the psychological conflicts that the parents and children may face. The situation is similar in the U.S., especially amongst the Baby Boomers, where the effects can be seen in Generation Y.
I was intrigued by how many similarities there were between the U.S. and Indian cultures, but this is bound to change once we visit other areas, such as Coimbatore and Kolhapur. I’m excited for the next few days, but I’m also hoping to get some more rest.
Jessica
I find it difficult to write a blog entry on the first day of our trip, possibly because it still has not hit me yet that we are finally here. I have been so excited for this trip for so long, and I think things will only seem real once the excitement wears off.
My biggest impression of Mumbai before I came here was from the movie "Lage Raho Munna Bhai." It is a Bollywood movie that I watched on the airplane to and from New Delhi when I took this course last year. The movie takes place in Mumbai and I remember thinking that the city seemed far more developed than the areas we went to in Northern India. It seems to be true so far. The buildings are higher, and the campus where we are staying right now has a more modern design than the places we stayed in the north, and it also has a lot more computers and AC everywhere.
Right now I am excited to get rolling; I'm not tired at all and I just want to keep on exploring all day and night. So far my favorite thing has been meeting the students; they have all been really nice and interesting. That said, I think I am going to go talk to some of them now.
My biggest impression of Mumbai before I came here was from the movie "Lage Raho Munna Bhai." It is a Bollywood movie that I watched on the airplane to and from New Delhi when I took this course last year. The movie takes place in Mumbai and I remember thinking that the city seemed far more developed than the areas we went to in Northern India. It seems to be true so far. The buildings are higher, and the campus where we are staying right now has a more modern design than the places we stayed in the north, and it also has a lot more computers and AC everywhere.
Right now I am excited to get rolling; I'm not tired at all and I just want to keep on exploring all day and night. So far my favorite thing has been meeting the students; they have all been really nice and interesting. That said, I think I am going to go talk to some of them now.
Anne M. Post #2-First Day in India
Today was my first day in India-it started off with a crush of people in the airport. I almost lost the group leaving the terminal! We were whisked off to a hostel where most of us did not sleep. In the morning, we were all nervously waiting for something to start-anything. When it finally did, it was like jumping into an ice cold pool; completely breathtaking.
The University at which are staying had come to life-from the dark road we saw during our arrival to a swirling array of colors and smells. All the students and the faculty that we had met were more than helpful and friendly. Out in a dirt area outside the hostel, students played cricket, which is a big sport in India. During our tours and our presentations, everyone was happy to answer our questions as well as ask some of there own.
I met with some young women-most of which were younger than me-who were the only 5 to 8 girls in the program (those I talked to were currently studying domestic engineering; a study of household appliances). They seemed almost embarrassed the attention we showered on them for being women, and a minority. They preferred to discuss what they did or just general introductions.
The first impression India has left on me is deep. Here at the University I see life, empowerment, hope for the future, whereas just outside my hostel window, I can see on of the many slums of Mumbai. Is this a world of such striking differences?
The University at which are staying had come to life-from the dark road we saw during our arrival to a swirling array of colors and smells. All the students and the faculty that we had met were more than helpful and friendly. Out in a dirt area outside the hostel, students played cricket, which is a big sport in India. During our tours and our presentations, everyone was happy to answer our questions as well as ask some of there own.
I met with some young women-most of which were younger than me-who were the only 5 to 8 girls in the program (those I talked to were currently studying domestic engineering; a study of household appliances). They seemed almost embarrassed the attention we showered on them for being women, and a minority. They preferred to discuss what they did or just general introductions.
The first impression India has left on me is deep. Here at the University I see life, empowerment, hope for the future, whereas just outside my hostel window, I can see on of the many slums of Mumbai. Is this a world of such striking differences?
Kimberly Le Post # 2
India is a beautiful place, and i have only began to scratch the surface of this place. The people are soo friendly and nice and the food is amazing, but spicy. I miss meat though!
When I thought of the schools in India, I pictured modern institutions, and when we took the tour around the university, I realized I was wrong. Although the architecture had much shape and size to them. it's still in the process of being fixed up. I enjoyed most, visiting the trade school that was on campus because out of all the students in the program, less than 10 wer girls. I asked one of them how it feels to be around all these guys in the school, and what ebtter an answer to get than to hear, "I like it!" She said that the guys are really nice and they don't look at her differently just because she is a woman.
It seems like women everywhere are facing the same challenges, how to balance work, life, and family all at once, basically, be super woman. I don't know how I'm going to do it but the women that spoke today made it through and they're still alive, though all did emphasize that support from family helped.
When I thought of the schools in India, I pictured modern institutions, and when we took the tour around the university, I realized I was wrong. Although the architecture had much shape and size to them. it's still in the process of being fixed up. I enjoyed most, visiting the trade school that was on campus because out of all the students in the program, less than 10 wer girls. I asked one of them how it feels to be around all these guys in the school, and what ebtter an answer to get than to hear, "I like it!" She said that the guys are really nice and they don't look at her differently just because she is a woman.
It seems like women everywhere are facing the same challenges, how to balance work, life, and family all at once, basically, be super woman. I don't know how I'm going to do it but the women that spoke today made it through and they're still alive, though all did emphasize that support from family helped.
Courtney Williams, Post 2
The thing that has been the most difficult for me to adjust to thus far in India isn't the spicy food, new (and often not so great) smells, foreign accents, or even the social customs. It's been the dogs. There are stray dogs everywhere, and they break my heart. I was ready to see people living in poverty, I had expected the huge slums that make up large areas of Mumbai. I had given myself time to prepare for that, I had thought about it, mulled it over, created images in my mind of what it would look like. The corrugated metal roofed shacks that dot any bare area of land large enough don't bother me that much. But last night, after we arrived, we took a bus to the new hostel on the Somiaya Vidyavihar campus, and as I stared at all the new sites out the window, I saw at least 15 dogs, thin, dirty, picking through garbage. I thought of fleas and mange, about how many of them would die from heartworm, and how many surely had tapes (My dad's a vet, I can't help it.)
To see animals, especially dogs (I'll explain that in a moment) living like that, knowing that surely they had never been to a vet, and never known human compainionship in the sense that I'm familiar with, was almost overwhelming.
At home, I've grown up on a farm. I've lived my whole life there. We have had horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens, goats, cats, dogs, rabbits, and quails over the course of my life. Most of the animals, other than the horses, have been rescues. Here's where the thing about the dogs comes in, my mother and I volunteer for Australian Shepherd Rescue (ARPH.) We've taken in over 10 dogs, many of which were abused or neglected, given them medical care, basic training, and human interaction. All but one of the dogs we rehabilitated were then placed in new, loving, forever homes. It's one of my passions, and because of it I want to take every one of those stray's, give them a bath, teach them a few tricks, and find people who will love and care for them.
To see animals, especially dogs (I'll explain that in a moment) living like that, knowing that surely they had never been to a vet, and never known human compainionship in the sense that I'm familiar with, was almost overwhelming.
At home, I've grown up on a farm. I've lived my whole life there. We have had horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens, goats, cats, dogs, rabbits, and quails over the course of my life. Most of the animals, other than the horses, have been rescues. Here's where the thing about the dogs comes in, my mother and I volunteer for Australian Shepherd Rescue (ARPH.) We've taken in over 10 dogs, many of which were abused or neglected, given them medical care, basic training, and human interaction. All but one of the dogs we rehabilitated were then placed in new, loving, forever homes. It's one of my passions, and because of it I want to take every one of those stray's, give them a bath, teach them a few tricks, and find people who will love and care for them.
Melanie - Food
The one thing that has stood out to me so far has been part of the culture, that being food. Growing up my best friend was half Indian, her father was from Punjab and his mother lived with him and his family in Southern California. At age 10 I became accustomed to eating Indian food, whoa was it spicy, I had to down a glass of milk to get any of it down, Baji did not like that and she did not like that I couldn’t handle her cooking. So why is it that 13 years later I am surprised how spicy the food can be, maybe I just expected that as I had grown that my taste buds would change as well? I realized that was not true when we had breakfast this morning and after being warned that this cinnamon dish was quite spicy I proceeded to try it anyways, I didn’t want to take her word for it, I thought I was stronger than that. I couldn’t eat it. At lunch I decided that I was going to be stronger and try to get through we had this delicious meal that consisted of well things I can’t exactly remember, but we had this soup that was like a vegetable soup, quite tasty but it really had a bite to it, I however told myself that I was going to eat the soup and deal with the spice, I made it through the bowl and didn’t die.
Zelina Fernandes 2nd posting
my first experience of India was great, until this morning when I felt sick. I got a little emotional. this is my first time out of the country and away from my family, so i am getting home sick. It is very interesting to see how in India the family are really close. During many of the meetings today, I felt like there is alot of stress and commitment to their families that make it hard for women to become leaders. Also, many of the guest speakers spoke about how at an early age it taught that you girls would be married off, so their is no point in having a great education. ALthough the women know about of these flaws and etc. they still manage to fight for their dreams. it's like what Amrita Somaiya said it depends on the women to fight for her dream!! But the expereince of India is getting better. I don't feel as sick, although I am extremely tired. This trip has been great so far!! Can't wait to go shopping!!
Deb H. in Mumbai at Somaiya
Our first morning in India we woke in the newly constructed (almost finished) dorms of Somaiya University in Mumbai. Prof Gupta brought chai and newspapers to our doors as we prepared for the day. We heard presentations on the Somaiya group and some of their projects. I was moved to hear about their work with people with HIV/AIDS. Hospitals are not required to take these patients and discrimination is rampant. The Somaiya project treats people with dignity and sensitivity, turning no one away. They have a focus on yoga and nutrition with a goal to “make them tough,” mentally and physically. Every six months they hold a “celebrating life” event, telling everyone “We will see you again in six months.” Maybe I will return to work with this inspiring project as an RN.
Touring the campus, I had the pleasure of talking with local students Jainee and Mugdha, both in their first year of the management program, both in beautiful traditional dress for our visit. While Mugdha lives on campus, Jainee lives in an apartment with roommates. This practice raises some eyebrows, but it is becoming more common for young women to live independently of their families. Both women plan to have careers and are also expected to be married. Mugdha’s parents highly value education and are very encouraging of her and her brother who studies engineering. Arranged marriage is not in her future. Jainee may consider it, but it is hard for her to imagine knowing if someone is the right match after only meeting them “once, twice or thrice.”
Touring the campus, I had the pleasure of talking with local students Jainee and Mugdha, both in their first year of the management program, both in beautiful traditional dress for our visit. While Mugdha lives on campus, Jainee lives in an apartment with roommates. This practice raises some eyebrows, but it is becoming more common for young women to live independently of their families. Both women plan to have careers and are also expected to be married. Mugdha’s parents highly value education and are very encouraging of her and her brother who studies engineering. Arranged marriage is not in her future. Jainee may consider it, but it is hard for her to imagine knowing if someone is the right match after only meeting them “once, twice or thrice.”
First day in India!
It is the first day in India and I am already having a blast! I love everything so much already. The time change wasn't even that big a deal, I am used to it already, although it might bge due to the red bull I was able to sneak into my suitcase.
Our first day has been so jam packed with sights, smells and new people. We met a bunch of girls from the college here as well as some of the faculty. The university is much different than any in the United States. Open air classrooms and hallways give off a slight breeze to the un-airconditioned parts of campus. I am just so excited to be in India that everything here is new and fantastic to me.
For breakfast we ate a traditional south Indian breakfast. There was a pancake sort of dish, along with a spicy sauce (which, to me, wasn't too too spicy). Along withthis was a coconut paste, which the others thought was spicy, and a sandwich made with butter and shedded cheese. It was not really what I expected to have for breakfast, but it wasn't bad.
After this, we sat in a classroom and learned about the University and the history behind it. It was very interesting to hear about the many opportunities open to thee Indian women.
After the panel we went on a tour of the campus, which was really interesting. As I said before, the campus is so different than anything I have seen before. Their campus is full of many types of people, and buggies, and stray dogs. It is like a mini-Mumbai. On the lawn there are a few students playing cricket, and a man we were touring with said he might even be able to teach us how to play!
After the tour we had lunch, which was a local dish, but I was not able to catch the name of it. It was like a paste, which a man was making on a large pan over an open fire. With it was served hamburger buns which were grilled on the pan next to the paste. It was really good, and very unique, I guess it is the favorite dish in Mumbai (how fitting).
We sat in the classroom after this listening to a few of the women speak about the college and the roles women play in the workforce as well as in home life. It was interesting tohear about the ways they are able to balance thehome life and work all at the same time. It sounds like what many American women still have to go through. Having to choose between career and family.
Now we are sitting in the computer lab typing away, and next up on the schedule is henna art and a buffet dinner and cultural event with the students here. I cannot wait for what lies in store, I can already tell that this is an experiene of a lifetime!
Our first day has been so jam packed with sights, smells and new people. We met a bunch of girls from the college here as well as some of the faculty. The university is much different than any in the United States. Open air classrooms and hallways give off a slight breeze to the un-airconditioned parts of campus. I am just so excited to be in India that everything here is new and fantastic to me.
For breakfast we ate a traditional south Indian breakfast. There was a pancake sort of dish, along with a spicy sauce (which, to me, wasn't too too spicy). Along withthis was a coconut paste, which the others thought was spicy, and a sandwich made with butter and shedded cheese. It was not really what I expected to have for breakfast, but it wasn't bad.
After this, we sat in a classroom and learned about the University and the history behind it. It was very interesting to hear about the many opportunities open to thee Indian women.
After the panel we went on a tour of the campus, which was really interesting. As I said before, the campus is so different than anything I have seen before. Their campus is full of many types of people, and buggies, and stray dogs. It is like a mini-Mumbai. On the lawn there are a few students playing cricket, and a man we were touring with said he might even be able to teach us how to play!
After the tour we had lunch, which was a local dish, but I was not able to catch the name of it. It was like a paste, which a man was making on a large pan over an open fire. With it was served hamburger buns which were grilled on the pan next to the paste. It was really good, and very unique, I guess it is the favorite dish in Mumbai (how fitting).
We sat in the classroom after this listening to a few of the women speak about the college and the roles women play in the workforce as well as in home life. It was interesting tohear about the ways they are able to balance thehome life and work all at the same time. It sounds like what many American women still have to go through. Having to choose between career and family.
Now we are sitting in the computer lab typing away, and next up on the schedule is henna art and a buffet dinner and cultural event with the students here. I cannot wait for what lies in store, I can already tell that this is an experiene of a lifetime!
Steph K. Jan. 8
Tuesday was a jam-packed day full of culturally shocking experiences. In terms of women and leadership, I learned a lot today. We were surrounded by women who have had the opportunity to access higher education, so obviously whatever they told me is from that perspective, rather than that of the common female. We met several students, whom we asked questions about their experiences at Somaiya University. I personally asked questions about how they feel in classroom settings with ratios like 3/10 females to males in the management school and 1/10 in the engineering school, and also about the competitiveness among genders and about their personal support nets. In general, they told me that they are happy to have the opportunity of higher education and do not feel uncomfortable male-dominated classrooms, but rather privileged. They also told me that there is not much competition among the genders in the university setting, but it becomes more competitive once they reach the career level and finding employment.
We then had the opportunity to panel 5 female faculty members on their experiences as female leaders. During this time I came to an important realization. I was previously under the impression that women here were unsatisfied with the trouble of balancing family with careers. However, the faculty members told me that they are proud of the fact that these days they can raise a family and manage a career even if it means taking a few years off of work. My reaction to that would be “why can’t the husband do that,” but theirs is “I wouldn’t want anyone else taking care of my child…and why miss out on that experience anyway?” When you look at life in less strict chronological terms it is understandable that a few years off of work can’t compare to the first few years of your child’s life.
We then had the opportunity to panel 5 female faculty members on their experiences as female leaders. During this time I came to an important realization. I was previously under the impression that women here were unsatisfied with the trouble of balancing family with careers. However, the faculty members told me that they are proud of the fact that these days they can raise a family and manage a career even if it means taking a few years off of work. My reaction to that would be “why can’t the husband do that,” but theirs is “I wouldn’t want anyone else taking care of my child…and why miss out on that experience anyway?” When you look at life in less strict chronological terms it is understandable that a few years off of work can’t compare to the first few years of your child’s life.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
india assignment
Hi, I'm Zelina Fernandes, senior at simmons. I love the Indian culture and it has always been a dream place for me to visit, and finally i ahve the opportunity. I am excited to get the first hand experience and also to learn more about the cultutre. What i found important in my predeparture paper was "Women all over the world have similarities that exist between the challenges facing women in advancing to leadership. In India as well as the US and Central Europe, there are inequalities amongst women workers and male workers. Many women are trapped in the middle management and stereotypes and other issues prevent them to progress to leadership positions. In the article Women in Management in India, discuss the social stereotypes about women’s role in society. A study by Khandelwal, based on a sample of 230 respondents suggests “that male mangers are stereotyped as working in the fields of production, sales and marketing, considered good bosses, leaders and decision makers, and carry out ‘hard’ field work and challenging assignments. On the other hand, female managers are stereotyped as working predominately in HR, PR and administration at subordinate or junior levels, and in ‘soft’ fields like fashion, clothing and beauty products related organizations. The prejudice and stereotypes have an affect with the management levels women are being placed allover the countries."
1. Emily Decker
I am a senior at Simmons College, I am looking forward to experience India, I don't know what to expect. I am excited to experience their culture and traditions. I realize that India will surpass China in the most populated country in the world within the next four years and I wonder how much the culture will change there.
Pre-departue, Courtney Williams
I am a sophomore and a (Communications) Public Relations and Marketing major. I currently work for Media Services at Simmons. I'm really looking forward to exploring a whole new culture, and celebrating my twentieth birthday while abroad (January 12th.) I think meeting women leaders who come from a background so different from my own will be an inspiring and eye opening experience.
One thing I found very interesting from the reading was that Indians, at least those of the upper class, greet a new person in English. They then figure out if they have another language in common, such as Hindi. If they do, they'll proceed in that language, if not, they continue in English. This speaks very strongly of the Indians mosaic of culture, because although two people in this situation already know they share a language, they would rather proceed in their own languages, thus keeping their unique culture intact.
One thing I found very interesting from the reading was that Indians, at least those of the upper class, greet a new person in English. They then figure out if they have another language in common, such as Hindi. If they do, they'll proceed in that language, if not, they continue in English. This speaks very strongly of the Indians mosaic of culture, because although two people in this situation already know they share a language, they would rather proceed in their own languages, thus keeping their unique culture intact.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Jen Lindsay #1
I'm so excited to see you all in a few hours, and start our adventure together. I've done a lot of traveling because I love learning about how other people live and live together. I belive there is so much to be learned from studying other people and although it can be scary and intimidating immersing ourselves in a foreign culture, ultimately we are all humans with the same needs and we are going to find surprising similarities between our two cultures.
Here's a short except from my predeparture paper:
Culture has an outstanding influence on every aspect of people’s lives. It shapes societies’ laws, political parties and international policies. Also, both culture and society mold each individual’s religion, language and desires. The main characteristic of culture that is so wonderful, is that every culture is so different. Yes, similarities exist that can comparatively make someone more comfortable in an alien culture based on influences of one culture reflecting another, but generally speaking every culture is unique and independent.
Fear is a good sign that we are brave enough to try something new.
Here's a short except from my predeparture paper:
Culture has an outstanding influence on every aspect of people’s lives. It shapes societies’ laws, political parties and international policies. Also, both culture and society mold each individual’s religion, language and desires. The main characteristic of culture that is so wonderful, is that every culture is so different. Yes, similarities exist that can comparatively make someone more comfortable in an alien culture based on influences of one culture reflecting another, but generally speaking every culture is unique and independent.
Fear is a good sign that we are brave enough to try something new.
Wei Wong - Intro
Hi everyone!
I just realized that we're leaving the country in less than 20 hours . . . I should be sleeping but I'm far too awake from all the excitement!
I'm a senior, graduating with a double major in finance and economics; I'm also a student in the BA/MBA program. Also, I'm the Co-President of the Asian Student Association.
I've always been intrigued by India's myriad of cultures; it's been a source of exoticism and curiosity for me since I was young. When I heard that this course was being offered, I jumped at the chance to sign up and go abroad, and I know that I'll be traveling with an amazing group of women, having the experience of a lifetime.
The excerpt I'm choosing relates to educating women for their families and the future. I feel that it is especially important for women to be educated in developing countries because there is so much that they can offer:
The dimension of future orientation, which is the degree to which individuals in societies engage in future-oriented behaviors such as planning and investing in the future (Gupta & Kelley, 2007), can be showcased through investment in education, especially for women. Tharoor supports the “‘Educate girls’” mantra, citing that educating a girl will educate a family and benefit an entire community (2007, p. 141). Contributing to India’s economical growth are women entrepreneurs and leaders, choosing to start their own businesses and leading major companies. Indra Nooyi, an influential Indian woman who is also the CEO of PepsiCo, is an example. Furthermore, the Society for Rural Improvement is working towards alleviating poverty in rural areas in India by providing micro credit to women. The fact that micro credit is provided only to women allows them to direct their own futures (Tharoor, 2007, p. 418).
See you all this afternoon!
I just realized that we're leaving the country in less than 20 hours . . . I should be sleeping but I'm far too awake from all the excitement!
I'm a senior, graduating with a double major in finance and economics; I'm also a student in the BA/MBA program. Also, I'm the Co-President of the Asian Student Association.
I've always been intrigued by India's myriad of cultures; it's been a source of exoticism and curiosity for me since I was young. When I heard that this course was being offered, I jumped at the chance to sign up and go abroad, and I know that I'll be traveling with an amazing group of women, having the experience of a lifetime.
The excerpt I'm choosing relates to educating women for their families and the future. I feel that it is especially important for women to be educated in developing countries because there is so much that they can offer:
The dimension of future orientation, which is the degree to which individuals in societies engage in future-oriented behaviors such as planning and investing in the future (Gupta & Kelley, 2007), can be showcased through investment in education, especially for women. Tharoor supports the “‘Educate girls’” mantra, citing that educating a girl will educate a family and benefit an entire community (2007, p. 141). Contributing to India’s economical growth are women entrepreneurs and leaders, choosing to start their own businesses and leading major companies. Indra Nooyi, an influential Indian woman who is also the CEO of PepsiCo, is an example. Furthermore, the Society for Rural Improvement is working towards alleviating poverty in rural areas in India by providing micro credit to women. The fact that micro credit is provided only to women allows them to direct their own futures (Tharoor, 2007, p. 418).
See you all this afternoon!
Deb H. intro
Hi Group,
We're going to have a wonderful adventure. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and sharing this rich experience together. I’m a nursing student at Simmons, graduating in May (yippee!). Cultural competency is hugely important in nursing. I hope the perspective I will gain in India will benefit my future patients, as well as increase my understanding of women in leadership. We’re so fortunate to be in college and have this opportunity to explore India in a guided, focused way. I'm looking forward to all the new places, people, sights, smells and flavors. I'm especially excited about saris, dance, Ayurvedic massage, elephants and chai.
Other people have mentioned the long flight. I plan to get up and move around when we can. It’s much better for your body to stretch out. I might as well mention that I have a history of back problems, so you may see me stretching throughout the trip, or maybe asking for help with my bag. Feel free to join me!
Here’s a bit from my paper. I’m intrigued by the idea of arranged marriages. It will be interesting to talk to Indian women about it.
India has a strong family and group orientation. This factor may limit women in professional roles as a significant emphasis is placed on the importance of marriage and family. A recent article in The New York Times describes an emerging shift in this paradigm as “women in their 20s are living independently for the first time, far from their families” (Sengupta, 2007). Many are deferring marriage, living lives their mothers may never have thought possible. But with new freedoms come new problems, including guilt. Marriage is still very important and it may be more difficult for working women to find a match. While arranged marriages are still prevalent, the tradition may be adapted to better suit modern women’s needs. A recent article in BUST magazine explores this phenomenon, interviewing a group of young, educated Indian women who “count their spouses as the best gift their parents ever gave them” (Goldstein, 2007).
We're going to have a wonderful adventure. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and sharing this rich experience together. I’m a nursing student at Simmons, graduating in May (yippee!). Cultural competency is hugely important in nursing. I hope the perspective I will gain in India will benefit my future patients, as well as increase my understanding of women in leadership. We’re so fortunate to be in college and have this opportunity to explore India in a guided, focused way. I'm looking forward to all the new places, people, sights, smells and flavors. I'm especially excited about saris, dance, Ayurvedic massage, elephants and chai.
Other people have mentioned the long flight. I plan to get up and move around when we can. It’s much better for your body to stretch out. I might as well mention that I have a history of back problems, so you may see me stretching throughout the trip, or maybe asking for help with my bag. Feel free to join me!
Here’s a bit from my paper. I’m intrigued by the idea of arranged marriages. It will be interesting to talk to Indian women about it.
India has a strong family and group orientation. This factor may limit women in professional roles as a significant emphasis is placed on the importance of marriage and family. A recent article in The New York Times describes an emerging shift in this paradigm as “women in their 20s are living independently for the first time, far from their families” (Sengupta, 2007). Many are deferring marriage, living lives their mothers may never have thought possible. But with new freedoms come new problems, including guilt. Marriage is still very important and it may be more difficult for working women to find a match. While arranged marriages are still prevalent, the tradition may be adapted to better suit modern women’s needs. A recent article in BUST magazine explores this phenomenon, interviewing a group of young, educated Indian women who “count their spouses as the best gift their parents ever gave them” (Goldstein, 2007).
Claudia Heye #1
Hi all. My name is Claudia Heye. I am a senior, with a math and psychology degree. I am looking forwards to traveling to India. I have traveled outside of the country but only to Europe. I am excited to learn about another culture. I want to see how they live. Each time I travel to another country I look for things in their culture that I feel is better than the US. When I come back I try to integrate that into my life, a collection of the best parts of all cultures. I can’t wait to learn about another culture.
Here is part of my paper on awareness and India culture:
“India’s diverse population is the cause of its high humane orientation culture. Populations that are diverse either promote tolerance or there is turmoil. As a high humane orientation culture India is very tolerant of religious and language differences. Historically India has discriminated against women (Budhwar, Saini, Bhatnagar, 2005) and certain castes. However this is changing in India. They have one of most aggressive affirmative action policies, that helps to reverse caste discrimination (Tharoor). There are programs that are being implemented in India to help women become more independent and equal to men.
India has a high power distance, however as a culture there is work being done to change this. The population of businessmen is growing, and becoming richer. This growth in income is not reflected in the poor. Philanthropist and now the Indian government are taking steps to help shrink the gap between the rich and the poor.”
Here is part of my paper on awareness and India culture:
“India’s diverse population is the cause of its high humane orientation culture. Populations that are diverse either promote tolerance or there is turmoil. As a high humane orientation culture India is very tolerant of religious and language differences. Historically India has discriminated against women (Budhwar, Saini, Bhatnagar, 2005) and certain castes. However this is changing in India. They have one of most aggressive affirmative action policies, that helps to reverse caste discrimination (Tharoor). There are programs that are being implemented in India to help women become more independent and equal to men.
India has a high power distance, however as a culture there is work being done to change this. The population of businessmen is growing, and becoming richer. This growth in income is not reflected in the poor. Philanthropist and now the Indian government are taking steps to help shrink the gap between the rich and the poor.”
Hello!
My name is Heather Reis and I am a senior management major at Simmons. I am from a small town on Cape Cod and this will be my first trip outside the US. I am excited to surround myself with Indian culture. I am most interested in seeing how other people live their everyday lives. I have been sheltered spending my whole life on the east coast, I can't wait to see what else is out there! The following paragraph is from my pr-edeparture paper and discusses how Indian and Central European women are very different despite the similar struggles they face.
"Because of differences in culture the road to leadership for Indian and Central European women are quite different. As discussed above, their struggles are similar but culture greatly influences the final result. Not all young women in India have the opportunity to receive an education and due to the high illiteracy rate it is possible that some families don’t see education as a necessity. This lack of education can also be connected to the poverty that some areas face. When a family is struggling to provide the necessities they don’t have extra money for schooling. Religion also plays a role in Indian women’s struggles. Some traditional beliefs can keep women in the home and out of the workplace. Unlike Central Europe which has the western philosophy of equality is socially acceptable. Indian girls may actually be more prepared than their male classmates because of the strict ways in which they are brought up. Girls are forced to stay in more than young boys and therefore have more time for reading and studying. I believe it is because of these religious influences, that women in Central Europe achieve leadership positions with greater ease than Indian women."
My name is Heather Reis and I am a senior management major at Simmons. I am from a small town on Cape Cod and this will be my first trip outside the US. I am excited to surround myself with Indian culture. I am most interested in seeing how other people live their everyday lives. I have been sheltered spending my whole life on the east coast, I can't wait to see what else is out there! The following paragraph is from my pr-edeparture paper and discusses how Indian and Central European women are very different despite the similar struggles they face.
"Because of differences in culture the road to leadership for Indian and Central European women are quite different. As discussed above, their struggles are similar but culture greatly influences the final result. Not all young women in India have the opportunity to receive an education and due to the high illiteracy rate it is possible that some families don’t see education as a necessity. This lack of education can also be connected to the poverty that some areas face. When a family is struggling to provide the necessities they don’t have extra money for schooling. Religion also plays a role in Indian women’s struggles. Some traditional beliefs can keep women in the home and out of the workplace. Unlike Central Europe which has the western philosophy of equality is socially acceptable. Indian girls may actually be more prepared than their male classmates because of the strict ways in which they are brought up. Girls are forced to stay in more than young boys and therefore have more time for reading and studying. I believe it is because of these religious influences, that women in Central Europe achieve leadership positions with greater ease than Indian women."
Friday, January 4, 2008
Steph K. Pre-departure Post
Hi everyone..
I'm Steph Krzyzewski, and I'm a junior at Emmanuel majoring in Global Studies with minors in Spanish and Management. Although I'm nervous about the flight, I'm really excited to be going to India -- I actually only decided to start a Management minor when I saw this class offered. I became interested in Indian culture during my World Religions class last semester. When we studied Hinduism, my professor could never give us any one belief system or cultural trait that was true for all Hindus, and this was really intriguing to me. During this trip I also want to work on being able to study other cultures without judging them directly. I want to be able study the history of Indian women and draw critical conclusions rather than make ignorant assumptions and judgements.
In my predeparture paper, I wanted to show a way in which Indian women have manipulated globalization and exploitation to their benefit, so here is my conclusion:
The idiosyncrasies of a culture dictate the ways in which women choose to become active in leadership endeavors. Because of India’s history of patriarchy, elitist concentration of power, and gender inequalities, women are making slow advances, unique to their situation. Indian women could benefit greatly from the adoption of western feminist ideologies, but their situation can also help guide the western movements. The women working in call centers provide insight, although they may not know it. The call center industry was new in India, although it was specifically outsourced to exploit cheap female labor. However, women took hold of the industry and it developed into a seemingly gender-neutral environment in which women could show their equal capabilities. If western women desire high-level management positions, entrepreneurship and new industries should be investigated, which could ultimately become jumping-off points for women to rise into upper-management levels.
It was hard to pick just one section that would make sense on its own, so there's the best one...
See you all soon :o)
I'm Steph Krzyzewski, and I'm a junior at Emmanuel majoring in Global Studies with minors in Spanish and Management. Although I'm nervous about the flight, I'm really excited to be going to India -- I actually only decided to start a Management minor when I saw this class offered. I became interested in Indian culture during my World Religions class last semester. When we studied Hinduism, my professor could never give us any one belief system or cultural trait that was true for all Hindus, and this was really intriguing to me. During this trip I also want to work on being able to study other cultures without judging them directly. I want to be able study the history of Indian women and draw critical conclusions rather than make ignorant assumptions and judgements.
In my predeparture paper, I wanted to show a way in which Indian women have manipulated globalization and exploitation to their benefit, so here is my conclusion:
The idiosyncrasies of a culture dictate the ways in which women choose to become active in leadership endeavors. Because of India’s history of patriarchy, elitist concentration of power, and gender inequalities, women are making slow advances, unique to their situation. Indian women could benefit greatly from the adoption of western feminist ideologies, but their situation can also help guide the western movements. The women working in call centers provide insight, although they may not know it. The call center industry was new in India, although it was specifically outsourced to exploit cheap female labor. However, women took hold of the industry and it developed into a seemingly gender-neutral environment in which women could show their equal capabilities. If western women desire high-level management positions, entrepreneurship and new industries should be investigated, which could ultimately become jumping-off points for women to rise into upper-management levels.
It was hard to pick just one section that would make sense on its own, so there's the best one...
See you all soon :o)
Winnie Huie
I can not wait for this trip! The main reason I chose India is because I feel there would not be another opportunity for me to go to India and this was a chance for me to go. I especially would like a culture shock experience because most my life I like to be in a safe corner, right now I am taking a chance with this and I know this would only benefit me. I look forward to getting to know a new culture and broadening my horizon. I can not wait to bring knowledge back to others about a county we seldom about. Even though the trip is only in two days it still dose not feel like I am leaving anytime soon. I know this will change for me when I am at the gate, getting ready to fly.
Since this is a women leadership course, I thought it was fitting to share the Gender Egalitarianism section of my debriefing paper:
Gender Egalitarianism
Gender egalitarianism refers to reducing gender role differences in society. This is low in India’s culture because women are still treated lesser then men. An example is Tharoor’s aunt, Rani-valiamma, who was a young widow:
“she didn’t have much of a life. Deprived of the status that a husband would have given her… Remarriage was out of the question, nor could the family allow her to make her own way in the world; so she returned to the village house she had left as a bride, and tried to lose herself in the routines of my grandmother’s household” (Tharoor, 1997, 89)
This example shows there is heavy dependence on males as a provider and women are helpless because of cultural restraints. The United States also shares this. When a woman is a single, mother or a widow, they are looked down upon because it is perceived they are not able to support themselves. This fully shows the society’s dependence on gender roles and falling back to tradition even though it may not benefit the woman.
Since this is a women leadership course, I thought it was fitting to share the Gender Egalitarianism section of my debriefing paper:
Gender Egalitarianism
Gender egalitarianism refers to reducing gender role differences in society. This is low in India’s culture because women are still treated lesser then men. An example is Tharoor’s aunt, Rani-valiamma, who was a young widow:
“she didn’t have much of a life. Deprived of the status that a husband would have given her… Remarriage was out of the question, nor could the family allow her to make her own way in the world; so she returned to the village house she had left as a bride, and tried to lose herself in the routines of my grandmother’s household” (Tharoor, 1997, 89)
This example shows there is heavy dependence on males as a provider and women are helpless because of cultural restraints. The United States also shares this. When a woman is a single, mother or a widow, they are looked down upon because it is perceived they are not able to support themselves. This fully shows the society’s dependence on gender roles and falling back to tradition even though it may not benefit the woman.
Pre Departure Post
Hello All!
I am so excited to head out for India. Once I got all my shots, it became all the clearer to me, we are leaving this sunday!!!! I simply cannot wait to get to India, but I sure can wait for that 16 hour non stop plane ride! haha. Although I am not a management major, I feel like this course will offer a lot, not only for credit, but also in life. I am excited to learn more about the culture and traditions of India, as it has always fascinated me. I have always loved the people, culture, cuisine and costume of India, and cannot wait to learn even more first hand. I will share again what I shared in the pre-departure workshop, which is a quote from the book "The World is Flat," I got a few chuckles from the crowd then and maybe I'll get some more this time around...
I have read the book “The World is Flat” and compared it to the readings in “The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cell Phone.” In “The World is Flat,”India is also described as a new world leader, with much of the same evidence. In “The World is Flat” there is a great quote which I think speaks to this idea… “I do not tell my children anymore to ‘eat their vegetables because there are starving children in India’ instead, I tell them to ‘do their homework, because there are children in India who want your job.’”
If anyone is looking for a book to read on that 16 hour plane ride I mentioned before, pick up "The World is Flat" for some extra reading!
Catalina Rojo
I am so excited to head out for India. Once I got all my shots, it became all the clearer to me, we are leaving this sunday!!!! I simply cannot wait to get to India, but I sure can wait for that 16 hour non stop plane ride! haha. Although I am not a management major, I feel like this course will offer a lot, not only for credit, but also in life. I am excited to learn more about the culture and traditions of India, as it has always fascinated me. I have always loved the people, culture, cuisine and costume of India, and cannot wait to learn even more first hand. I will share again what I shared in the pre-departure workshop, which is a quote from the book "The World is Flat," I got a few chuckles from the crowd then and maybe I'll get some more this time around...
I have read the book “The World is Flat” and compared it to the readings in “The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cell Phone.” In “The World is Flat,”India is also described as a new world leader, with much of the same evidence. In “The World is Flat” there is a great quote which I think speaks to this idea… “I do not tell my children anymore to ‘eat their vegetables because there are starving children in India’ instead, I tell them to ‘do their homework, because there are children in India who want your job.’”
If anyone is looking for a book to read on that 16 hour plane ride I mentioned before, pick up "The World is Flat" for some extra reading!
Catalina Rojo
Anne M. Post 1
Hey-
My name is Anne McDonough and I am currently a sophomore at Simmons College. I am majoring in Management with a minor in history. You could say I'm a history nerd,a really mega history nerd. I'm also a travel junkie. I need to see everything for myself on this planet and beyond before I can ever be satisfied. Thats why I'm taking this trip. The world is an amazing and terrifying place, and it does no one any good to sit at home and fear it. People who hide from reaching across borders and barriers are probably my biggest pet peeve. How can you grow if you never leave?
During this trip I hope to grow up a little more, become even more independent then I am now. I need to learn how to walk better on my own two feet.
Here is an excerpt from my pre-departure paper, about challenges facing women-
"Women all over the world are still pushing for rights. Sometimes, it is harder to see. Indian women are slowly, yet forcibly breaking old masculine traditions. Ms. Deo, in her speech, noted she had “little time for tradition.” One could see why, as most traditions involving women include arranged marriage, changing of the woman’s first and last names after marriage, and, in extreme cases, the mistreatment of widowed woman. Could her statement be the reflection of a modern Indian woman, or even any woman? Yes, no woman truly interested in equality could have time to fit into a traditional gender role. Perhaps this is why educated woman are feared worldwide."
You see everyone? We are to be feared for our brainy ways, haha-see you all on Sunday!
My name is Anne McDonough and I am currently a sophomore at Simmons College. I am majoring in Management with a minor in history. You could say I'm a history nerd,a really mega history nerd. I'm also a travel junkie. I need to see everything for myself on this planet and beyond before I can ever be satisfied. Thats why I'm taking this trip. The world is an amazing and terrifying place, and it does no one any good to sit at home and fear it. People who hide from reaching across borders and barriers are probably my biggest pet peeve. How can you grow if you never leave?
During this trip I hope to grow up a little more, become even more independent then I am now. I need to learn how to walk better on my own two feet.
Here is an excerpt from my pre-departure paper, about challenges facing women-
"Women all over the world are still pushing for rights. Sometimes, it is harder to see. Indian women are slowly, yet forcibly breaking old masculine traditions. Ms. Deo, in her speech, noted she had “little time for tradition.” One could see why, as most traditions involving women include arranged marriage, changing of the woman’s first and last names after marriage, and, in extreme cases, the mistreatment of widowed woman. Could her statement be the reflection of a modern Indian woman, or even any woman? Yes, no woman truly interested in equality could have time to fit into a traditional gender role. Perhaps this is why educated woman are feared worldwide."
You see everyone? We are to be feared for our brainy ways, haha-see you all on Sunday!
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