Gender Studies Week Six

1) Migration and racialization are two important aspects that are discussed in this reading in the context of South Asian women. The question that comes to my mind is that why this takes place and what efforts could be made to stop this from taking place by the countries and their respective governments?

I think that women face many problems because of racialization and marginalization and remain underrepresented because of this. I think that this takes place because the governments are making little or no effort to stop this. I think that this is an issue that should be addressed on a large platform and organizations should be established by the concerned authorities to provide these women with equal opportunities at all levels. If some effort is made by the governments to curb this and to challenge an racist ideas and beliefs, then perhaps the problems faced by these women will be eliminated.

Women and Poverty

2) The reading talks about women and poverty and that poverty cannot be eradicated if wealth and power remains in the hands of a few. Why is this so?

I think that poverty is a phenomenon that is linked to women in this reading, because a woman mainly does most of the unpaid household work that is not recognized. Together with this, in the rural areas of Pakistan, women are not allowed to go outside their homes, and to earn a living for themselves. The wealth and power is mainly concentrated in the hands of men and women are not given their equal rights. I think that even if wealth and power is concentrated in the hands of a few, if women are given their equal rights then there is scope for progress and the elimination of poverty. If their due rights are given to them and if they are on an equal footing  with man then it does not matter if the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, because if rights are given then women will get a chance to move forward.

Reading: Ceiling black bodies: black women in the global prison industrial complex

3) It is said in the reading that the crisis of women prison can be read as the crisis for black women and women  of colour? Is this view correct? If yes, Why?

I think that this view is correct because it is seen that black women form a major part of women’s prisons and are treated unjustly. It then becomes a crises for them because they have to remain in these prisons for years and are provided with no help that could help them get out of these prison. They remain behind bars and have very little hope of getting released. I think that this is because these women are poor and so get involved in drug trafficking. They are only told about its monetary aspects, whilst other negative aspects are kept hidden from them. This then later on becomes a crisis for them as they have to spend years in jail.