MATERIALES, MANO DE OBRA, EQUIPO, MAQUINARIA Y HERRAMIENTAS

The freedom awarded to girls and boys show marked differences that are based on the ideal of preserving female sexuality, which in turn translates into the idea of establishing respectable identities. For the most part, these ideals transcend the class divide although variations exist between the two older generations and the younger generations.

5.4.1 Working Class Experiences

All working class respondents, with the exception of two, stated that their male siblings or sons were definitely given more freedom when it came to going out with friends or having relationships.

Anjali (late-30s),

“He [brother] definitely had more freedom than we did in terms of he being a boy and more responsible, and we obviously being girls and that... he went out more and if we wanted to go out in the evenings, we‟d have to be home a certain time… and he didn‟t have a time that he had to be home.”

Aiyesha (late-teens),

“I think he [brother] definitely has a lot more freedom considering he‟s a guy... he can do what he wants to... they always know that my brother never has just one girlfriend and they always joke about it… but he definitely has more freedom in the topic than I do.”

Safinah (late-teens),

“Going out‟s a big issue... during the day its fine but night! – clubs is completely out of the question… he‟s [her brother] still small but I think they will be much more lenient.”

Razia (late-40s),

“I suppose generally speaking in every home you‟ll find the boys can go more often out and come back when they want but not with girls... they more strict on the girls… and you still find it in some families I think.”

Shoutami (late-60s),

“They were very strict regarding that you know… basically it was the same [for boys and girls] only boys got slightly more freedom than the girls to go out, because they felt the girls are not at an age where they can look after themselves... boys are more… er… trustable... you know how our old orthodox Indian parents would think...”

This last statement was interesting in that it implied that boys are not only more adept at looking after themselves, but also that it does not matter what they get up to when they go

out. In contrast girls are treated as though they are vulnerable and easily swayed, and that „going out‟ has negative connotations when it comes to expectations of female behaviour.

In the case of relationships, many of the times the girls were expected to remain single until they got married. Dating was therefore not an option for those in the two older generations (late-40s and 60s to 70s). This implies that female sexuality is an important aspect within these Indian families and women are expected to preserve their sexuality and protect themselves by staying home rather than going out and socialising. Boys on the other hand were allowed girlfriends and could go out whenever they pleased which demonstrates how masculine sexuality is shaped and portrayed very differently. However, the women in their late-40s, although not allowed to date while they were young, now find it more acceptable that their own daughters date although through controlled measures whereby they need to meet their boyfriends and know what they do or where they go.

We see that a woman‟s sexuality is linked to respectability in that women had to carry themselves in particular ways and be sheltered from pre-marital relationships as this was seen to be an important aspect of respectability. This was reinforced by some of these women discussing how they must dress decently and conservatively, as well as by

references made to girls who dress openly or who go out drinking and clubbing as cheap. Thus restricted mobility was seen as an inherent aspect of femininity as it served to shape these women into modest and feminine ideals (Salo, 2003). As such, cultural beliefs on women‟s sexuality imposed restrictions and monitoring of women‟s public activities and behaviour. As Salo (2003) highlights, moral standing is important within small

communities and particularly relevant in relation to women. Families are thus often judged as respectable, or not, by a daughter‟s moral standing and modest behaviour when in public. Thus girls are socialised by their mothers to incorporate and emulate the feminine ideals of respectability through preserving their sexuality.

5.4.2 Middle Class Experiences

With the middle class, as with the working class women, we see how the respondents stated that boys were granted far greater freedom whether it meant going out with friends or in terms of having relationships.

Sunaina (late-30s),

“We grew up with very strict morals so we weren‟t allowed to go out… we couldn‟t even speak to a boy up until you were married and that‟s it!”

Praveena (late-40s),

“They [brothers] used to have girlfriends but we weren‟t allowed to have boyfriends.”

Yasmeen (late-40s),

“Exactly [brothers had more freedom to go out]… all the time... we were always under their wing, we could never experience nothing… we were restricted from everything, social life, everything!”

Nisha (late-40s),

“Ok at that stage, when you were 17 or 18 you get married... what they used to do is they usually used to organise a boy from somewhere and then you get married.”

Like with the working class women however, generation again played a role whereby all the respondents in the younger generation were allowed to date before marriage.

However, these respondents all maintained that if they did meet someone they had to bring him home and get him acquainted with their parents formally. Also, they had to inform their parents whenever they chose to meet their boyfriends, or tell them of their whereabouts. Despite this flexibility when it comes to relationships however, in terms of freedom, the younger generation interviewees still maintained that their brothers had considerably greater freedom than they did. This centers on masculinity beliefs that men are more able to take care of themselves and therefore do not need to be restricted from

social lifestyles (Salo, 2003). Here again we see the importance of protecting female sexuality as it was perceived as dangerous for girls to go out whenever they wished to nightclubs or parties, given the lifestyles and social culture of today. In addition, respectability is established through moral boundaries based on a woman‟s public activities (Salo, 2003).

5.4.3 Generation Differences

Interestingly, despite these rigid boundaries that the older generations – in both the working and middle class – were subjected to while they themselves were growing up, they now feel that when it comes to their own children, sons and daughters should be treated more equally. They therefore award the same opportunities of dating and meeting friends to both heir sons and daughters, albeit with more restrictions on the girls in terms of curfew or where exactly they go to.