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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Gender sensitivity and Bhuvi
Bhuvi is my 6 year old niece. She introduced a new game of 'make believe grinding'. We were sitting on the bed and we dutifully did the motion of grinding for a while (traditional Indian way where the right hand makes a big circle on the ground and with left hand grains are put into the small slot). I tried to talk to her and this conversation followed.
Me: Bhuviamma what are you grinding?
(I was playing my childhood game of 'acting like adults')
Bhuvi: What are YOU grinding?
(obviously she had not played this game before)
Me: I am grinding for Idli
(After I said this, I became aware of the gendered conversation I was building where women were sitting and doing all the work etc. etc. and I asked her kicking myself inwardly)
Me: What are you grinding?
Bhuvi: She took a pause and I thought 'oh no she is going to say Dosa now'.
After the pause, she said ....
'I am grinding WORMS'
Whew the damage was not done :-)
Me: Bhuviamma what are you grinding?
(I was playing my childhood game of 'acting like adults')
Bhuvi: What are YOU grinding?
(obviously she had not played this game before)
Me: I am grinding for Idli
(After I said this, I became aware of the gendered conversation I was building where women were sitting and doing all the work etc. etc. and I asked her kicking myself inwardly)
Me: What are you grinding?
Bhuvi: She took a pause and I thought 'oh no she is going to say Dosa now'.
After the pause, she said ....
'I am grinding WORMS'
Whew the damage was not done :-)
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