Diversity is a word that is part of our everyday vocabulary. On the positive side we have legitimised it. On the negative side, the overuse of the term results in some people paying lip service to it and glossing over what it actually means in terms of how we act, feel and live. Even worse, diversity has come to be associated with political correctness!
Since what MCIS does demonstrates our commitment to diversity, I asked my co-workers to express ideas they associated with the concept. I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful bouquet of responses I received. First, more than half the staff who were asked, wrote back. Second, people who waxed poetic, were the ones I least expected to. Third and most surprising of all everyone had something original to say. Since I offered to compile their responses in a blog I will make best efforts to do it in a manner that does justice without being repetitive. Before that, I must thank people for their willingness to share some deeply held values in such eloquent language.
Two staff borrowed literary references, both of which are worth sharing
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Freedom and tolerance of all ideas is essential to the discovery of truth, as everyone has a piece of the truth, but no one has the whole truth. Diversity is a reflection of this ideal and the foundation to the success of our modern liberal democracies.
J.S. Mill
Others said it meant variety, difference, multiplicity, acceptance and respect of differences on all the enumerated grounds protected under human rights laws and of joining, enjoying and being inclusive. In a society that promotes diversity, people saw it as the blending of differences, of creating a beautiful whole that is much better than the sum of its parts, where one can be unique without being the odd one out, like a beautiful quilt or tapestry. Yet others, chose to describe the concept in terms of its impact on them or on society as a whole. So diversity as a value provides checks and balances in our political system and allows us to live in a safe and tolerant environment which is positive and endorses our unique values and lifestyle. Another interesting take was on the freedom it provides people to create opportunities and overcome hardship based on their unique perception of their shared environment. I particularly liked the expression of diversity as not meaning “saris, samosas and steel drums” but an openness to accept traditions and the openness to voice our opposition if we disagree. This last thought is an interesting one and reminded me of a CBC interview where Tariq Fatah founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress commented on the "honor killing” murders that took place in Kingston recently. He criticised the social service agencies’ failure to intervene and protect the murdered women due to their misplaced “respect” for what they saw as cultural norms. He pointed out that when we speak out against the mistreatment of women in some communities we are not disrespectful to them but are expressing our outrage over basic human rights violations. In other words, diversity should never be about being politically correct.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Legalizing Prostitution
I have been reading and listening with interest the discussions surrounding the controversial decision made at the Ontario Court of Appeal overturning some of Canada's prostitution laws. The majority found the law to be unconstitutional and decided to decriminalize prostitution to protect women so they are able to report any abuse without fear of being criminally charged themselves. On the face of it, a great decision. However, I cannot shake the tremendous discomfort I feel with a decision that condones a trade that objectifies women. Further, issues around substance abuse and patriarchy will continue to prevent women from reporting abuse. Is there enough will and institutional muscle to ensure women receive the support they need before they choose to enter this high risk career, when they choose to stay in it or to leave? Will they be educated on having themselves screened regularly for physical and mental health conditions? While criminalization is not the better alternative, have we thought this through, in terms of the messaging to our young girls and women? Of particular concern for us at MCIS is the plight of young women who are trafficked here. They are usually brought here under a false pretext and then become trapped due to their inability to speak the language. It appears traffickers will now be able to operate legitimate businesses under the protection of this new law? How will the new laws protect these women?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Canada's Immigrants - hardworking or bogus?
I was at T and T Supermarket today marveling at the array of goods there, limited only by the human imagination. Who knew coconut water could be canned or bottled and consumed in so many different ways, as liquid, with gel cubes, beans and so forth. I noticed that few among the throngs milling around the dim sum counters spoke English, and marveled at the sheer efficiency of the food preparation enterprise and the exchange of goods for money. I was filled with gratitude that Canada had brought the far corners of the world to me to experience and enjoy. Why just this morning I had partaken of Navroze celebrations with a Farsi co-worker.
I naturally lament the very narrow view that Jason Kenney and his party is now taking of Canada's immigration policy. They are trying to fix a system that is not broken. That immigrants struggle initially to settle is true, but it is not entirely their fault. 90% of 27 employees at my office are immigrants who could not get a job because of lack of Canadian experience. They are an extremely bright and dedicated bunch who have bought cars and homes, invested in professional development and are working hard to give their children a University education. They just needed that first break. It is worth noting that while Canada may be spending money settling immigrants, this is nowhere near the benefits it has reaped from investments made by the source countries in educating their best and brightest, who end up here. The above is all trite knowledge. What Kenney is overlooking the most when he turns applicants to Canada into a repository of resumes whom employers can pick from to come here, is the immigrant population's diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. What he does not see is that newcomers who end up here without jobs but with all their savings, by the very act of coming demonstrate their risk taking ability. When they cannot find work, they create their own opportunities as small business and franchise owners. While bringing immigrants who can immediately settle because they come with jobs is a good idea, what shapes this country is the creativity that comes from adversity. After all, do we want a homogenous group of smug professionals or do we want people who reinvent themselves, make discoveries about their ability to survive, change careers and thereby serve as wonderful role models for their children. When did the hardworking immigrant stereotype get replaced with this government's notion of bogus one?!
I naturally lament the very narrow view that Jason Kenney and his party is now taking of Canada's immigration policy. They are trying to fix a system that is not broken. That immigrants struggle initially to settle is true, but it is not entirely their fault. 90% of 27 employees at my office are immigrants who could not get a job because of lack of Canadian experience. They are an extremely bright and dedicated bunch who have bought cars and homes, invested in professional development and are working hard to give their children a University education. They just needed that first break. It is worth noting that while Canada may be spending money settling immigrants, this is nowhere near the benefits it has reaped from investments made by the source countries in educating their best and brightest, who end up here. The above is all trite knowledge. What Kenney is overlooking the most when he turns applicants to Canada into a repository of resumes whom employers can pick from to come here, is the immigrant population's diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. What he does not see is that newcomers who end up here without jobs but with all their savings, by the very act of coming demonstrate their risk taking ability. When they cannot find work, they create their own opportunities as small business and franchise owners. While bringing immigrants who can immediately settle because they come with jobs is a good idea, what shapes this country is the creativity that comes from adversity. After all, do we want a homogenous group of smug professionals or do we want people who reinvent themselves, make discoveries about their ability to survive, change careers and thereby serve as wonderful role models for their children. When did the hardworking immigrant stereotype get replaced with this government's notion of bogus one?!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
International Women's Day
Some thoughts on the role of Development, Globalisation and Religion on Women’s Rights
Today is International Women’s Day. After listening to an interview of Nayantara Sehgal on the radio I decided to wear my“native” dress today. The story goes that when she was on a book tour in America in the late sixties, a woman in the audience asked of her saree, if it was her native costume and if she would show the room how she wore it. Nayantara is said to have quipped back, “these are my clothes and I am not about to undress in front of everyone”. The point here is of course the tendency to make exotic or into a “native costume” anything that is not western. Interested in carrying out a social experiment, I wore a salwar kameez to work today. First thing, I went downstairs to the coffee shop. I noticed that people were extra polite to me. People remarked how nice my outfit was, tried to make conversation and even made way for me in the coffee line. I also noticed how I made it a point to respond with a deeper voice to reflect my confidence as though to dispel any stereotype they have of me as a meek and coy ethnic woman. I don’t know that I can stand the attention wearing these clothes every day. There is great comfort in being invisible and blending in. As this realisation dawned on me I realise how much further we have to go in the West to break down barriers associated with racial and gender stereotyping. Oddly enough, in India now you can navigate in a Western suit in most cities without drawing much scruntiny. What does that say about development? Is it about becoming westernised?? I hope not.
On this day, I reflect on the role development, globalisation and religion have played on women’s rights and here are some of my thoughts.
Dont you agree that "development" has been a double edged sword for women? For middle class women, it has meant taking on the role of breadwinner over and above gender defined roles. As a result there is considerable added physical strain and mental stress. Add to it the reality of women predominating in low paying jobs in the profit centres of the East which serve the Western corporations. They often work nights under hazardous conditions at risk of sexual harrassment and assault. Since market forces trump everything and laws are rarely enforced against the powerful, particularly if the perpetrators are bringing in the profits, there are few accommodations made to protect women from harrassment and sexual abuse.
For the poor women of the world, increasing development has meant a more precarious life with the widening gap between rich and poor, high inflation and increased cost of living. The land grab has meant loss of traditional land and homes to the multinational corporations and no alternate place to farm or earn a living. It seems like a return to the feudal set up where agricultural labourers were bonded to the landlords, the difference now being there is less agriculture and more construction for the large corporations. Women work in construction under poor and unsafe conditions – and in less skilled jobs and earn lower wages than men. In addition, and due to their indoctrination that they are the nurturers responsible for the home and children, they do double duty. Their plight is made even more precarious by the alcoholism that is rampant among their male folk.
It is not easy to unravel gender politics, given it is inextricably tied to religion, caste and class. The unequal treatment of the genders is so entrenched in our social structures that it is accepted as part of gender identity. We try to fix gender equality by paying lip service to society’s structural context but attempting all fixes from the perspective of gender. We therefore have people who point to how far women have come or the successes of some women – as though to suggest it is the fault of the rest that they have not taken the opportunities given to them. Unfortunately, what goes unacknowledged is that religion, caste and class have a differential impact women. For eg, the return of all forms of fundamentalism in the religions of the world, as a backlash to western capitalism and its "seductive" allure, has resulted in women’s gender identity being defined by their role as the preservers af family, clan and cultural purity, represented by their virginity. Therefore, depending on their context women need varying degrees of support, competence, confidence and courage to withstand scrutiny when they buck role stereotypes. They have to be imaginative and negotiate with people who are rigid, prejudiced and unimaginative. Among the “have nots” women are still the world’s poorest and the gap between rich and poor keeps widening giving them less and less access to the resources they need to do this successfully.
So what are some things that need to change immediately. We need strong sanctions against the abuse of women in the workforce that hit the pocket books of large corporations and also individuals. We need affirmative action programs to provide access for woman to an imaginative educational system that teaches them to break traditional barriers to employment and negotiate gender inequalities with skill and minimal hardship. We need the education of entire socieities on the negative effects of globalisation on women’s condition. Most important of all, we need to demystify the sanctity of religion, particularly its role in curtailing women’s freedom.
Today is International Women’s Day. After listening to an interview of Nayantara Sehgal on the radio I decided to wear my“native” dress today. The story goes that when she was on a book tour in America in the late sixties, a woman in the audience asked of her saree, if it was her native costume and if she would show the room how she wore it. Nayantara is said to have quipped back, “these are my clothes and I am not about to undress in front of everyone”. The point here is of course the tendency to make exotic or into a “native costume” anything that is not western. Interested in carrying out a social experiment, I wore a salwar kameez to work today. First thing, I went downstairs to the coffee shop. I noticed that people were extra polite to me. People remarked how nice my outfit was, tried to make conversation and even made way for me in the coffee line. I also noticed how I made it a point to respond with a deeper voice to reflect my confidence as though to dispel any stereotype they have of me as a meek and coy ethnic woman. I don’t know that I can stand the attention wearing these clothes every day. There is great comfort in being invisible and blending in. As this realisation dawned on me I realise how much further we have to go in the West to break down barriers associated with racial and gender stereotyping. Oddly enough, in India now you can navigate in a Western suit in most cities without drawing much scruntiny. What does that say about development? Is it about becoming westernised?? I hope not.
On this day, I reflect on the role development, globalisation and religion have played on women’s rights and here are some of my thoughts.
Dont you agree that "development" has been a double edged sword for women? For middle class women, it has meant taking on the role of breadwinner over and above gender defined roles. As a result there is considerable added physical strain and mental stress. Add to it the reality of women predominating in low paying jobs in the profit centres of the East which serve the Western corporations. They often work nights under hazardous conditions at risk of sexual harrassment and assault. Since market forces trump everything and laws are rarely enforced against the powerful, particularly if the perpetrators are bringing in the profits, there are few accommodations made to protect women from harrassment and sexual abuse.
For the poor women of the world, increasing development has meant a more precarious life with the widening gap between rich and poor, high inflation and increased cost of living. The land grab has meant loss of traditional land and homes to the multinational corporations and no alternate place to farm or earn a living. It seems like a return to the feudal set up where agricultural labourers were bonded to the landlords, the difference now being there is less agriculture and more construction for the large corporations. Women work in construction under poor and unsafe conditions – and in less skilled jobs and earn lower wages than men. In addition, and due to their indoctrination that they are the nurturers responsible for the home and children, they do double duty. Their plight is made even more precarious by the alcoholism that is rampant among their male folk.
It is not easy to unravel gender politics, given it is inextricably tied to religion, caste and class. The unequal treatment of the genders is so entrenched in our social structures that it is accepted as part of gender identity. We try to fix gender equality by paying lip service to society’s structural context but attempting all fixes from the perspective of gender. We therefore have people who point to how far women have come or the successes of some women – as though to suggest it is the fault of the rest that they have not taken the opportunities given to them. Unfortunately, what goes unacknowledged is that religion, caste and class have a differential impact women. For eg, the return of all forms of fundamentalism in the religions of the world, as a backlash to western capitalism and its "seductive" allure, has resulted in women’s gender identity being defined by their role as the preservers af family, clan and cultural purity, represented by their virginity. Therefore, depending on their context women need varying degrees of support, competence, confidence and courage to withstand scrutiny when they buck role stereotypes. They have to be imaginative and negotiate with people who are rigid, prejudiced and unimaginative. Among the “have nots” women are still the world’s poorest and the gap between rich and poor keeps widening giving them less and less access to the resources they need to do this successfully.
So what are some things that need to change immediately. We need strong sanctions against the abuse of women in the workforce that hit the pocket books of large corporations and also individuals. We need affirmative action programs to provide access for woman to an imaginative educational system that teaches them to break traditional barriers to employment and negotiate gender inequalities with skill and minimal hardship. We need the education of entire socieities on the negative effects of globalisation on women’s condition. Most important of all, we need to demystify the sanctity of religion, particularly its role in curtailing women’s freedom.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Yesterday we began renovating our kitchen and bathroom. The last two weeks have been spent planning a smooth transition to renovation mode, setting up a make-shift kitchen with a two element electric stove, the fridge, coffee maker, utensils, basic groceries, and planning simple meals that might make their way into a recipe book entitled "simple vegetarian recipes for renovators". I feel joyful in my temporary kitchen which takes me back to my childhood days of playing house. In addition, the "hardship" from making do is romantic since it makes me feel quite righteous and triumphant against odds. You see this "kitchen" is not centrally heated and the access to it from the rest of the house is past the rubble of the areas being renovated. Given our below zero temperatures it feels like a Delhi kitchen in the winter or worse. I have to bundle myself up, shoes, coat and all before commencing work in it. Adding to the "hardship" element is the necessary trudge to the bathroom down the hall, past the rubble to wash dishes. I find myself more mindful, with greater awareness of all that I take for granted and greater empathy for people whose lives are makeshift due to abject poverty, war or both. In a very practical sense, this attentiveness helps me plan ahead given that cooking is a lot slower and often requires coordination with pressure cooker, rice-cooker/steamer, since I have a low capacity stove and no oven. I wake up super early, while it still seems like night outside, to cook breakfast and lunch before leaving the house. As I increase the space in my house, I am experiencing greater space and silences between my thoughts. Maybe from the mindfulness?!
Here's one to get you started
This dish reminds me of days spent eating spinach, picked from the shores of the river Cauvery, cooked in a stone pot on a firewood stove. Takes me back to my uncle's house in Mayavaram where i spent summers as a child!
In a little pressure cooker add a tablespoon of oil and once it is heated add half a teaspoon of mustard seeds, one teaspoon of black gram dhal (urad), 1/4 spoon fenugreek seeds, pinch of asafoetida, curry leaves, a couple of dried red chillies- add 1 bunch chopped spinach, quarter cup cooked red gram (tur) dhal. Add quarter cup water, let the steam come out, add the weight and turn off after one soundb. Lightly hand blend with salt. Great with hot rice and mango pickle.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
My mom's companion
Today as I watched "The Big Year", a wonderful movie about "birding", I thought about our intimate relationship with crows while growing up in India. The caw was probably the first sound I heard outside the nursing home window as I wheezed my first breath. The crow then
bore witness to all the important events in my life, curious and present and oddly comforting as the only constant through all the changes brought on by us changing cities, schools and just coming of age. Even now through all the radical transformation that economic growth has brought about in India you can count on the crow to trigger warm, fuzzy nostalgia. On a
recent trip home, I watched with delight this wonderful bond between my mom and a
crow that caws sitting on her window sill. It is funny how they communicate, with him
responding to her call, sitting for hours on her sill cawing while she shuffles around in her large and airy kitchen. He even expresses disapproval of some of the food she sets in his bowl by picking it up with his beak and placing it inside the sill! He is there beside her through her lows and highs, more than her children. I am convinced this crow that loves my mom's cooking is my Dad from the nether world, true to my Brahmanic belief that crows are the manifestation
of our ancestors. I had so many folks respond to my post on my mother and this crow with similar stories about their moms who lived alone, with these crows as companions and eating buddies through their lonely coffees or meals. The simplicity of this bond of mutual benefit made me feel warm all over.
bore witness to all the important events in my life, curious and present and oddly comforting as the only constant through all the changes brought on by us changing cities, schools and just coming of age. Even now through all the radical transformation that economic growth has brought about in India you can count on the crow to trigger warm, fuzzy nostalgia. On a
recent trip home, I watched with delight this wonderful bond between my mom and a
crow that caws sitting on her window sill. It is funny how they communicate, with him
responding to her call, sitting for hours on her sill cawing while she shuffles around in her large and airy kitchen. He even expresses disapproval of some of the food she sets in his bowl by picking it up with his beak and placing it inside the sill! He is there beside her through her lows and highs, more than her children. I am convinced this crow that loves my mom's cooking is my Dad from the nether world, true to my Brahmanic belief that crows are the manifestation
of our ancestors. I had so many folks respond to my post on my mother and this crow with similar stories about their moms who lived alone, with these crows as companions and eating buddies through their lonely coffees or meals. The simplicity of this bond of mutual benefit made me feel warm all over.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Xbox and Foosball
Xbox and foosball
On a cold winter night, like the one last night, I am a veritable couch potato. My idea of fun is being curled up in front of our gas fireplace, part dozing, part reading (so as not to become a complete vegetable) and part watching TV which the husband is glued to. No one dare force me to make any effort more than that. So when I was dragged by a friend to his fancy apartment complex with bowling alleys and foosball I was not thrilled. The evening started with
us "golfing" and "skiing" with help from his xbox ( a first for me). Not known for my coordination, I was not a happy camper, but perked up when I actually beat the guys! Then it was downstairs to play foosball. "Come on" i grumbled, "this looks like a toy game that no one over 12 should be allowed to play". Soon we were a bunch of mostly thirty plus somethings ( we had some young folks join us) going at it like we were in the world cup. The playing "field"
is a small square table with 8 levers on it; the players, plastic toy men, are attached to these levers. There two teams are colour coded with blue and red players. Each team member grabs 2 levers with both hands, one playing offense and the other defense. The object is to block your opponent or score into the goal post. What makes it tricky is the limited scope for movement- just the flick of the wrist to block or hit -, coordination between both hands, all the while keeping both eyes on the ball. It became addictive, what with me trying to intellectualize and perfect my technique even as I got more and more competitive. I noticed in retrospect that it was in those moments when i forgot to think that i did the best and had the most fun! I broke out into a sweat, my cheeks flushed from the heat of the exertion and learnt all about being a member of a team, even as I brought out the child in me. Who would have thought foosball could teach me life lessons!
On a cold winter night, like the one last night, I am a veritable couch potato. My idea of fun is being curled up in front of our gas fireplace, part dozing, part reading (so as not to become a complete vegetable) and part watching TV which the husband is glued to. No one dare force me to make any effort more than that. So when I was dragged by a friend to his fancy apartment complex with bowling alleys and foosball I was not thrilled. The evening started with
us "golfing" and "skiing" with help from his xbox ( a first for me). Not known for my coordination, I was not a happy camper, but perked up when I actually beat the guys! Then it was downstairs to play foosball. "Come on" i grumbled, "this looks like a toy game that no one over 12 should be allowed to play". Soon we were a bunch of mostly thirty plus somethings ( we had some young folks join us) going at it like we were in the world cup. The playing "field"
is a small square table with 8 levers on it; the players, plastic toy men, are attached to these levers. There two teams are colour coded with blue and red players. Each team member grabs 2 levers with both hands, one playing offense and the other defense. The object is to block your opponent or score into the goal post. What makes it tricky is the limited scope for movement- just the flick of the wrist to block or hit -, coordination between both hands, all the while keeping both eyes on the ball. It became addictive, what with me trying to intellectualize and perfect my technique even as I got more and more competitive. I noticed in retrospect that it was in those moments when i forgot to think that i did the best and had the most fun! I broke out into a sweat, my cheeks flushed from the heat of the exertion and learnt all about being a member of a team, even as I brought out the child in me. Who would have thought foosball could teach me life lessons!
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