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so However, some (22 5O/0) were w~ll~ng to send them w~th an escort Selvl once sa~d,
dc
lt is so much better now. So many girls go to school and take up jobs outside
the village also. About 5 years ago, very few girls went to school outside the
village. My father had to face a lot of criticism from his relatives and neighbors for
sending my slster to Dind~gul for nurslng training." Most people (80 0%) were w~lllng
10 borrow money for the~r son's educat~on On the other hand, not many were w~lllng to
do so for the~r daughter's educat~on Only about 65 0% sa~d that they would borrow
money for thew daughter's educat~on, and, that too, only ~f she d~d well In school Slnce
they had to spend on her rnarrlage any how, they were not keen to spend on her
educatlon Many (60 6%) felt that educat~on would not make a girl's mamage easler or
less costly Only 39 4% felt that ~t was easler for a g~rl w~th a job to get marr~ed Most
of them (99 4%) thought that menarche these days would not Interfere w~th a glrl's
educatlon
The follow~ng are some of the statements made m th~s regard
1. "I think it will be good if girls read and take up jobs. Then even if her husband
leaves her, she can earn and look after her family" (A 33 year old woman In an
In-depth ~nte~ew) A s~m~lar statement was made by many people
2. "1 wish I had educated my daughters. At that time I was thinking how I was
going to get them married and did not think about sending them to school.
Now I see so many girls reading and getting jobs and having status in society.
I wish I had also educated them" (A 45 year old woman In an In-depth lntervlew)
3 "My daughter has studied upto the Vlll standard only. I wanted her to become
a nurse. She was not reading well. We could have sent her for tuition. But
her father said we can't afford to educate all our children. It is more important
to educate boys. Anyway she is not reading well. Let her stay at home and
learn housework. So, we got her married" (A 40 year old woman ln an In-depth
Inttrv~ew)