Rigidly Masculine

Nearly 40.7% of the men in India have been classified as "rigidly masculine," based on their views and beliefs of women. The International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) has classified Indian men into four categories in order to avoid lumping them all into one stereotype. The four classifications are equitable men, flexible behavior men, flexible attitude men, and the rigidly masculine. The rigidly masculine consider women to be inferior to them, and they are very controlling of their wives. These men are three times more likely to physically abuse their wives and almost four times likelier to want a son over a daughter. These conclusions are based on studies taken by the ICRW across seven states. Only 25.6% of the men in these seven states would be considered in the equitable category. The equitable men strongly support women as equals and this translates into sharing of household work and responsibility for contraception. They firmly believe that women are not to be blamed for rape. The rest of the male population ended up between the two ends of the spectrum.

In comparison with the high ratio of rigidly masculine men, nearly 27% of the women surveyed reported violence against themselves within the past year. 34% of the male population admitted to physically abusing their wives ever, but only 31% of the female population admitted to have suffered the violence.

The survey also concluded that 72% of men in the rigidly masculine category have a high son preference versus 19% of the equitable category. This preference can lead to severe health issues for women and a greater gap in the population ratio. The 2001 census reported a drop from 927 girls per 1,000 boys (ages 0 to 9) in 2001 to an all-time low of 914 to 1,000 in 2011.

The results show that men with a secondary or higher education and those living in urban areas are more likely to fall into the equitable category. Economic stress also weighs down on men to create more rigid notions against women. The findings of this survey make it clear that education is the most important solution for this issue. People need to be brought up with the view of men and women as equals. It is also important to set up a change in mindset in adults, especially men who hold these rigid views. Men will be the most direct form of change in this issue.

40% of Indian men are hardcore sexists: Study


Discussion Questions:
1. Which universal human right(s) is/are being denied in this situation?
2. Why do you think a smaller percentage of women admitted to having suffered physical violence as opposed to the 34% of men that admitted to having physically abused their wives?
3. Why do you think better education and urban environment are associated with the equitable category of men in India?

Deforestation

http://www.frontline.in/environment/the-elephant-in-the-room/article5389669.ece?homepage=true

Forests in india are disappearing and the issues that follow it are catastrophic. Research done in 2005 show that much of elephant human problems occur where elephant used to have migration paths but because of rampart deforestation they have been turned into human spots. Elephants because of their huge size need more forest areas than other animals and the deforestation is affecting them the most. It is also important to note that since the elephant is a hunted animal for its ivory tusks that this deforestation is making it easier for people to hunt and kill them. As forests fragment so will the elephant population until there is nothing left of either. This is a huge problem because india is in the middle of two huge environmental issues more elephants being killed and the lack of forest to house them because of the deforestation.

What do you think the government should do?
Do you think that this is a big issue?
How does this affect what we have learned about the catholic social teachings?

Mass Surrogacy in Anand, India

Article Summary
As one of the few places around the world that allows commercial surrogacy at a relatively low cost, India has experienced booming growth in the business. In particular, the city of Anand in the far western state of Gujarat has become a "Mecca" for foreigners seeking a surrogate mother to gestate their baby. There is a hostel located here where fifty surrogate mothers are living, all under the care of Dr. Nayana Patel. Patel has helped close to 700 surrogate mothers deliver a child for 580 couples; she has been doing this since 2004. The topic of surrogacy is a controversial topic, and Patel holds a positive view of it. She sees it as a win-win situation - Indian women earn large sums of money to help their family and foreign couples are able to have a child. A surrogate mother is paid around $8000 US dollars for having the child, a huge amount for many of these woman. Madhu Makwan, a surrogate mother, said, "I've got a chance now to make my life. God is too kind." She was previously making around $2 a day working in the fields, and with the money she made she is now able to support her family properly.

 Questions
1. Ranjana Kumari, a critic of surrogacy, calls the practice "organ sale." What do you think of this claim?
2. We talked in class about the discrepancies that occur over who is the biological mother and who is the adoptive mother. What is your opinion about this argument?
3. What are the moral issues at stake with surrogacy (ex: loss of human dignity)?

Indian Rape Law Offers Desperate Last Resort

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303460004579192040826366178

On November 29, a young and pregnant Indian woman was left by her groom to be on her wedding day. Taking advantage of the rape issues in India, this woman felt the best course of action to bring her should-be husband back was to abuse the legal system and exploit him for rape. This is a commonality as of late in India, as women are using the legal system and police, who are trying harder to implement punishment upon rapists and convict those men who are guilty, to bring back innocent men. This specific woman, Ms. Guatam, even said she "didn't have any other option." Women don't know what to do when faced with abandonment. As young women in India are gaining more freedoms, such as dating, education, and personal desires, they are beginning to abuse the system in Orr to secure their social standing even further.
1) By abusing the legal system in this way, are women in a way being self detrimental? How so?
2) How should women approach abandonment differently?
3) Are the progressions toward women's rights in India a good decision for all?

2/5ths of Children Suffer from Malnutrition; $74m Spent on Mars Mission

Following its independence, India has been playing a catch-up game with some of the more advanced countries on earth but, on November 5th, it launched its first unmanned mission to the planet Mars. However, in a country with a $2 trillion economy where only 1.2% of GDP is spent on public health care, should a space program really be considered? Signs point to yes. With a growing middle class holding stable jobs, India is now able to collect more tax money which can be spent on such government projects and benefits can already be seen in investments in space technology. In 1999, a cyclone hit India's eastern coast, killing over 10,000 people. But with recent satellite technology infrastructure, the recent cyclone which hit India killed only a few thanks to weather satellites. Still though, India's space program as a whole employs over 16,000 people, individuals whose technical skills could be used improving sanitation systems and other necessary infrastructure. Such irregularities certainly certainly raise questions.

1. What would you do if you were in charge of India's national budget? Is space technology worth it when other countries are already so far ahead? Or with neighbors such as Pakistan and China, is it a necessity?
2. How can Catholic Social teachings be applied to this case?

16+ Teens can be tried as adults for heinous crimes

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cabinet-readies-to-treat-16-plus-in-heinous-crimes-as-adults/articleshow/26707294.cms

In this situation, the Indian government is charging people who are sixteen year old and up and commit a heinous crime as adults rather than as kids. This will deny 16+ teens protection that was previously allowed under the Juvenile Justice Act. Recently, the courts of India decided to not lower the age of juvenility from the eighteen year old age that it is now. The Indian public was clamoring for this law to be changed after a seventeen year old involved on a gang rape. This would violate the human right of sixteen year olds who would be tried as adults in courts of law. This could mean the end of life for people who still have time to learn about what they did wrong and maybe change. Also, another barrier towards this law passing would be the UN child rights law. The Indian government is currently working on a way to solve this problem peacefully and to ensure that juveniles are treated differently.

Anti-rape law will ensure action on perpetators

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anti-rape-law-will-ensure-action-on-perpetrators-Meira-Kumar/articleshow/26698923.cms

In New Dehli, a new law legislation passed will serve as a means of punishing perpetrators of crimes against women. A speaker, Meira Kumar, said that last december a bill for violence issues relating to women was introduced, and now this law is able to help ensure offenders will be prosecuted. Kumar was the chief guest at the Border Security Force Raising day celebration where she gave an address that also praised efforts of bringing women into security forces. Border security will now induct women into their forces for the first time in 2014. Kumar thanked the BSF for changing with changing times as they have allowed women to be admitted into the force and fulfill once only men held positions.

1. What type of justice is now being fulfilled by this new legislation passed that protects women and punished perpetrators of violent crimes against women?

2. What human rights were being violated before the BSF allowed to admit women into their forces?