Where women of India rule the roost and men demand gender equality

Submitted by Broadsword on Tue, 2011-01-18 18:03

Article here. Excerpt:

The Khasi, who number about 1 million in India's north-eastern state of Meghalaya, carry on the matrilineal tradition. The youngest daughter inherits, children take their mother's surname, and once married, men live in their mother-in-law's home.

"Only mothers or mother-in-laws look after the children. Men are not even entitled to take part in family gatherings. The husband is up against a whole clan of people: his wife, his mother-in-law and his children. So all he can do is play the guitar, sing, take to drink and die young," Pariat concludes gloomily.

Men are the weak sex in Meghalaya, but Pariat hopes the Syngkhong Rympei Thymai (SRT) campaign [roughly "a wedge to shore up a shaky table"] will promote reform of family structures. Indeed he wants to achieve more than mere equality. "Men are endowed with natural leadership. They should protect women, who in return should support them," he says.
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In the state capital Shillong, women wear skirts to church, put on lipstick and drive their cars with their windows open, listening to music. Many are happy to stay single. In a country where the pressure to get married is everywhere, they are an exception.

"Why bother with a husband? I already have a family and I want to concentrate on my career," says Rosanna Lyngdoh, 38, who lives with her extended family in a house with 21 bedrooms.

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'"Why bother with a husband? I already have a family and I want to concentrate on my career," says Rosanna Lyngdoh, 38, who lives with her extended family in a house with 21 bedrooms.'

But in any case, why would a man want to get married if it means life as described herein? If I were one of these fellows, I'd just up and leave. Suppose it's easier said than done, but that's just what I'd do.

Screw my damned infernal relatives. I'd move to New Delhi or Bombay, anyplace but there.

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Submitted by Matt on Wed, 2011-01-19 00:05

It is in backwards places such as this, that the Internet, and international news services, can make a big difference. Once local men appreciate that they don't have to be slaves, they will stop getting married, and stop subjecting themselves to this and related types of abuse. Likewise, the men's movement needs to highlight the lifestyles of single men, who are going their own way, making their own lives, and not going along with the Feminist or woman-dictated program. The more we can get the word out about these alternative life styles, the more discontent the local men will become (and with good reason). The more discontent the local men are, the more activists in the movement we will generate.

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Submitted by redwoodwriter on Wed, 2011-01-19 20:09