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A review by pawanraj
May You Be The Mother of A Hundred Sons by Elisabeth Bumiller
3.0
An "outsider" look at issues women face in the Indian context. A series of articles providing women's perspective and problems they face. Articles written by a US journalist, from her experiences, and "on-field-research" during her 3+ years in India. The topics are wide ranging from population control, to arranged marriages, role of women in the household, change in women's awareness of their own rights, female infanticide, feminist movements in the country, and the like.
The good:
1. Wide ranging set of topics covered
2. While the book is "feminist", the tone is measured, even and the treatment of subjects is not one-sided. Alternative viewpoints are considered
3. The writing style is simple, and straightforward and personal.
4. A good perspective into the state of women in the 90s
The bad:
1. It's old (1990). Perhaps, after 3 decades, another edition is in order?
2. It's based on limited interactions and understanding of someone who doesn't live here. This, is simultaneously good and bad. It's good because the contrast between the women in US and the women in India is what explains some of the problems. It's bad because it sometimes misses the context in which India lives, and relies on limited knowledge. It must be said, however, that most observations are substantiated by the author spending time in villages / with feminist groups / observing the working of society and organizations. Thus, it's not just hearsay passed as fact.
3. The writing could be tighter. Quite a few places are ramblings and thoughts unconnected to main article.
4. In a lot of places, (perhaps because the context is missing), the base assumption is that women are not well off, and "findings" are therefore given that perspective, that is to say, "this is a hammer, so every problem is a nail" syndrome is apparent in a few articles.
All in all, a decent read. It is not "extreme-feminist", still provides a female perspective, for an outsider looking in. The author tries to be balanced and account for the fact that she's in a different culture, looks at alternative viewpoints. Due is given to people trying to bring about a change, and this isn't just a "doom-and-gloom account".
It is also heartening as an Indian to note that things have improved a lot in 30 years since the book was published, but it is also sobering to realize that a lot of these problems still exist in the country.
The good:
1. Wide ranging set of topics covered
2. While the book is "feminist", the tone is measured, even and the treatment of subjects is not one-sided. Alternative viewpoints are considered
3. The writing style is simple, and straightforward and personal.
4. A good perspective into the state of women in the 90s
The bad:
1. It's old (1990). Perhaps, after 3 decades, another edition is in order?
2. It's based on limited interactions and understanding of someone who doesn't live here. This, is simultaneously good and bad. It's good because the contrast between the women in US and the women in India is what explains some of the problems. It's bad because it sometimes misses the context in which India lives, and relies on limited knowledge. It must be said, however, that most observations are substantiated by the author spending time in villages / with feminist groups / observing the working of society and organizations. Thus, it's not just hearsay passed as fact.
3. The writing could be tighter. Quite a few places are ramblings and thoughts unconnected to main article.
4. In a lot of places, (perhaps because the context is missing), the base assumption is that women are not well off, and "findings" are therefore given that perspective, that is to say, "this is a hammer, so every problem is a nail" syndrome is apparent in a few articles.
All in all, a decent read. It is not "extreme-feminist", still provides a female perspective, for an outsider looking in. The author tries to be balanced and account for the fact that she's in a different culture, looks at alternative viewpoints. Due is given to people trying to bring about a change, and this isn't just a "doom-and-gloom account".
It is also heartening as an Indian to note that things have improved a lot in 30 years since the book was published, but it is also sobering to realize that a lot of these problems still exist in the country.