91Èȱ¬

Lubna, Iraq
Hi friends, i have a question:do you think that a woman should fight for her right in a society that suffers as a whole? Greetings to my Indian friends.

Patrick Msukwa, Malawi
Women are just as capable as men, motivated, proffessional...they need empowerment in the labour market.

Mansour, Monrovia
Women need to get marriage and become responsible house wives.

Pratik, Mumbai
I think like everything else in India, there is a huge contrast between condition of rich and poor, urban and rural Indian women.

Simion called from Nigeria to ask:
Why do women in India pay dowries when they want to get married? In Nigeria Men pay the dowries.

Anon
Islam does not allow women to stay idependent. What of economic progress?

Abhinav, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India.
Women are weaker only in company of a single man. See their power when more than one macho man is present.

Jon, Cambridge, MA
Why even bother with this circular conversation about Man vs. Woman! I think I had this same conservation in the 7th grade. Move on!

Rajeev
You know one secret, back at home in an orthodox family women play a very vital role in crucial decsions like their children marriages. It's not man who is powerful in this but women in this aspect.

Donna Di Sante, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, USA
I was in Mumbai about six years ago. I noticed that the majority of the manual labor, such as street cleaning, construction, etc. seemed to be done by women. Even though the caste system is officially banned, I could see that it still exists, and women seem to be lowest! It also seems that the disparity between "the haves" and "have nots" is growing greater. What social justice reforms are being addressed?

Andrew from Blantyre, Malawi
There's nothing wrong with a woman earning more than the husband infact its a bonus because the household becomes an even better place.

Irfan, Mohammad
The assertion that dowry is no longer paid in Indian society is incorrect. While the explicit demands of dowry may have withered away there are still other more subtle ways of requesting the same including making the bride’s family pay for a lavish wedding and other ways which may not involve an explicit exchange of cash.

Michael Kizza, Kampala Uganda
Dear 91Èȱ¬, affirmative action has brought a lot of relief to women in Africa enabling them to take informed decisions on their health and careers. We have copied western ideas which is not without its callamities. My observation is that it has also led to an increased number of single parent families headed by women, loss of value from the marriege institution where there is no head, women scooping high paying jobs using bizarre means to outcompete fellow women. Unless cultural values are re-established, domestic relations will continue to slump.

Najeeb in Pakistan
Secular India is respected under the sun, but there is one custom for women, she has to burnt herself on the death of her husband, called (sathi) what steps the youth of india are taking to root out this inhumane custom.

Fatema from Kuwait
I want to ask if today's girls are career oriented or is it important to be marred by a partcular age? My grandparents are from rural area. There it's important to be engagd by 18.

Lap, London
India should take Britain's example and their women should become Ladettes.

Megan, Oregon
I am a college educated woman, mother of two young children. As a joint effort, my husband and I decided that I should stay home with the kids for their benefit while they're young. I might consider myself one among the backlash of the "women in the workplace" movement. I feel that my role as mother and wife must come first in order for the society to improve and for my values to be passed on. In the meantime, I am watching 3 other kids while their parents have careers. I earn extremely little compared to them, but feel confident in our decision.

Laura, Portland, OR - USA
I'm listening to your conversation about Indian women finding the balance between work and home. Unfortunately, this is still a huge issue in the West as well. I'm an American woman and I see my friends and sisters who work not only because they choose to work, but because the have to work. They perform an exhausting, daily juggling act. When they get done with work, they pick up the kids, cook dinner and take care of the house and end up doing the majority of child rearing and dealing with the logistics of the home on top of working a full time job. I'm not saying that all men choose not to help with the housework, but in the US, women still make something like 75 cents on the dollar to men, so there seems to be this attitude from a lot of men that because men make more money, they must work harder thus, when they get home, they're done. Women don't have this luxury, we're never done. So many women just take on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning on top of everything else and don't stand up and say - "listen, we're equals, that means that if I cook, you clean or visa versa. My bottom line is, I see improvement here and certainly improvement in India and for that I applaud, but we all (men and women alike) still have a long way to go before we are truly equals.

Girish, Cleveland, OH
Indian women are superstars. They are epitome of India's progress. A common woman has done everything better than Indian men. Indian women are the centre of India's glory yet Indian men conveniently ignore their contribution. Indian women are always/almost every time is more productive at home and at office. Indian women can support both aspects of life with equal efficiency and passion. Can an Indian man do this? Can he balance the life? Does he even know how to make a cup of Tea?

Ronnie
There is no chance that Mumbai will have communal harmony, because there are some politicians in this city that are famous for continuously inciting disharmony.

Pricilla, Kenya
It is difficult for a men to be in a relationship where the woman is financially independent.The men believe that if they have less money they are not in control, its a cultural issue. Its nice to hear that there are some male feminists in Mumbai but on the issue of multi tasking men don't realise that the multitasking is still an extra job. Cooking, cleaning, babysitting.

Chris in India
Indian women are treated as worst slaves in many places. In many states they are tortured and murdered for not paying the dowries to their husbands.

Demola from Nigeria
Please you have to discuss Indian movies? I'm very pleased that their movies don't reflect the caste system? It would have spoilt it for me! Thanks.

Steve in Kenya
Let the Indian men come to kenya if they want to marry. We have enough and they are cute.

Layi, Nigeria
In lagos it common place to see women who earn more than their spouses.

James in Spain
India don't kid yourself. The trickle down effect from rich to poor is a myth. This is not an economic lift off for the huge number of poor. The political middle class must share the new wealth.

Susan, Portland OR
Three points for the conversations in India:
1. I wish we in the US had more international cell phone access, very few do, so while you may not be hearong from us we are listening.
2. I recommend the latest issue of the ECONOMIST Feb3 : India is the cover story.
3. In regard to women in India, as everywhere, civil societies become more socially just when men and women will allow the truth of each other's experiences, check out the evidence and act together for the common good.
We are still learning how to do that here in the US. Use the passion I am hearing to move beyond the crippling seduction of selfish consumerism to create a truly great India.

Mark, US
Urbanisation and economic success are a double edged sword.
Cultural perspectives will have to bend in a modern technological environment, for both women and men. I just hope my friends in India can bend with the times, while facing a minimum of cultural 'breakage'.

Ravi, US
My name is Ravi and I am from indian origin living in US for 17 years. Our marriage was an arranged one, and my wife made more money than me always. She is good at cooking and I am good at cleaning. We do what we are best. That way the work is get done. None is higher none is lower. Indian women should work with their husbands to get to that point. Education and gradual change in culture is the solution.

Guta from Ethiopia
Hello World have you say. In this information age we all are changing and don't mind to stay home if it is advantageous and beneficial to the family. But, we need to concede the natural selection at the same time. Women need longer time at home to complete a family. Even if I agree to stay home it is the woman who give birth and feed the infant.

Haresh
As Indian men we are quite proud of the fact that we had a woman head of state (Indira Ghandi) in our country decades ago, which we feel is evidence enough that we are capable of putting the reins in the hand of any capable woman whether that be wife, boss, or political leader.

Taraprakash
Well, if India was a place where every appointment was based on merit and not on influence. there was no need for reservation in jobs and legislative for women.

Taraprakash
She is very right if she is talking about small towns and hills. Since there is not much work, the men just sit, play cards, booze and women slog in the fields and do menial chores for other for a pittance. But in big cities, men cannot afford to be lazy and they are not.

Alan, Arizona, US
A friend of my wife's, got her education to be a teacher first. Then she married her husband here in America as an arranged marriage. Her husband was born here and supports her being a teacher here in Arizona, along with her family and his family! She is happy having the best of both worlds. Support of 2 good Indian families with the freedom for females that America offers!

J Marsh
Although I have only been in contact with Indian people & culture for the last 15 years, I am amazed at the changes that have happened in such a short time. In an effort to be brief let me just ask all people to look at what is happening in this broadcast. 15 years ago would this broadcast have had so many intelligent, educated and outspoken people who are aware of conditions and events happening in such a vast country in such real time? Would the government have allowed this broadcast much less the discussion about womens equality? Even in the US womens equality & rights are being debated. India has so much to offer the world in philosophy, tradition & energy of it's people. Peace.

Laura Ricker
Stop interrupting each other like crazy people! It’s impossible to understand what the hell you are saying and why you are saying it! Host, get control of everyone so we can figure out what your points are. At this point with all the interrupting, we are all sick here in the office.

Julie Collura
I usually find your program interesting and informative. However, today's program is ridiculous. The group of people on your show are not getting anything accomplished. No one is being allowed to finish a comment. People are constantly interupting each other, even the hosts. The hosts should moderate the show better, allowing one person to finish a comment and allowing another person agree or contradict. I will be happy when today's show is over!