Sunday, October 20, 2002		Feedback

Questioning norms

APROPOS of Yogesh Snehi’s "Questioning gender norms", there is an urgent need to redifine gender roles in the light of the phenomenal increase in the number of working women.

The non-involvement or lack of cooperation by men is the crux of the problem. That is, the problem of the misery of an Indian working woman’s life.

It is of vital importance for the Government of India to recognise the right of the woman to be free from the bondage of drudgery and exploitation and the need for equal treatment, dignity and respect for women in the family and community as well as support in their day-to-day work.

It is important that the age-old gender-based classification of work into watertight compartments of a ‘man’s task’ and a ‘woman’s task’ be discarded.

K. M. VASHISHT, Mansa

This refers to Omar Abdullah’s interview with Ashwini Bhatnagar (September 29) kudos to the interviewer for revealing the stand of NC towards the solution of the Kashmir problem. Interviews often paint a more accurate picture of a situation than do articles.

SHIV DARSHANLAL, SHARMA, Gurdaspur

This refers to Veena Singh’s "Mother-in-law: Tormentor or the tormented?" (September 15).

The write-up is one-sided. The relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law has taken a turn for the better in recent times and they have become more like friends.

We should also not forget the increasing number of bride-burning. Has any one ever heard of mothers-in-law being burnt? The writer has accused daughters-in-law of being ruthless, cruel and manipulative but has made no mention of those daughters-in-law who are harassed by their husband and their in-laws.

DICKY CHHABRA, Ludhiana