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If You Liked It You Shoulda Put A Latrine On It
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Leanna Ramsey-Corrales
10/12/09

In reply to If You Liked It You Shoulda Put A Latrine On It
Maybe it's cos I'm not American, and dowry's are really normal in my culture. But for me, they are REALLY similar to engagement rings.
Now don't get me wrong, I have some issues with both as a feminist. But at least the "no Toilet no Bride" is getting something good for the world out of this economic exchange. That's more than I can say for diamond rings.
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CherriSpryte
10/12/09

@Leanna Ramsey-Corrales: The difference for me is, at least in the situations I'm familiar with, dowries go to the bride's family, whereas engagement rings go to the bride. I have problems with engagement rings as well, but dowries take away agency.
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likepenguins
10/12/09

In reply to If You Liked It You Shoulda Put A Latrine On It
It's like Lysistrata, but for toilets.
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Edna Sednitzer
10/12/09

In reply to If You Liked It You Shoulda Put A Latrine On It
Maybe it's me, but this story bothers me a lot. Because it sort of normalizes the issue of "women as commodities". And latrines or not, I cannot get behind this.
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Lin-Z [linguist on duty]
10/12/09

@Edna Sednitzer: To a lot of people, women ARE commodities, so whether it should be that way or whether that is normal is kind of a moot point.

These women seem like they are trying to gain the upperhand in this situation the only way that they can. With increased health and education for Indian women, they may actually get some real power on their sides and be able to end the trend of female commodification.
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Misiula
10/12/09

@Edna Sednitzer: Well, actually, the problem is that for many of these women going outside to take care of these basic physiological needs means disgracing their femininity, which means that they try to wait till after dark. Hours of such battles against their bodies make them very sick -- and that's on top of the health risks mentioned in the piece. I'm all for giving them toilets if "not commodifying" women should mean not allowing them to defecate.
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itsonreserve
10/12/09

@Edna Sednitzer: I do think in the Western world we don't understand the Indian dowry system correctly, or at least the way the do. In arranged marriages, while only the women come with actual property, both parties of an arranged marriage commodified by their elders. In some practices, like child brides, this is certainly terrible, but for the many consenting adults who agree to be a part of the arranging, as opposed to stealing away with a "love-match," they seem to enjoy the system and their marriages. It's really no more or less fucked up than western ideas about marriage, and as a choose your choices feminist, I personally have a hard time telling women of another culture they are oppressed. They are doing something amazing with their dowry and have yet to express distaste for the system it operates under.

Wow, thats long.
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colormeroutine
10/12/09

@Edna Sednitzer: I don't see this at all. If anything it's the opposite. This is not an actual dowry as in "I will buy your daughter for x amount" this is a woman saying "I will not marry you unless my needs are met"
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