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Asian women caught
in the middle
By Zarina Geloo
Women’s rights are accorded and accessed differently by women of
different races. In the Asian and black races, women are often
considered minors (regardless of laws giving women majority
status) and still have to depend on male members of their family
to negotiate and represent them in public life. Culture has also
been used to deny women their rights. In this article, Zarina
Geloo looks at race and gender relations within the Indian race.
Jayetri Mummar remains unaware that she is considered the
guardian of her children and can therefore give them her name,
nationality, and sign official documents on their behalf, just like her
husband.
Mummar, who is a Moslem, still believes she has to get her
husband’s permission to apply for a passport, national
registration card or buy property. But she is unconcerned.
“ Whether I am aware of these new developments or
not is irrelevant. My husband sorts out these official
things for me. I cannot imagine that he or any other
Indian man would allow their wives to queue up in
crowds and deal with bureaucracy.”
19
Irritated by what she imagines an insult to her intellect
for being ignorant of her rights, Jayetri says women